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KENILWORTH FESTIVITIES 



COMPRISING 



laneham's 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PAGEANTRY, 

AND 

GASCOIGNES MASQUES, 

REPRESENTED BEFORE 

QUEEN ELIZABETH, 

AT 

KENILWORTH CASTLE 

ANNO 1575 ; 

WITH INTRODUCTORY PREFACES, GLOSSARIAL AND 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 

ILLUSTRATED WITH SEVERAL ENGRAVINGS. 



JOHN V MERRIDEW, 
WARWICK AND LEAMINGTON. 

SOLD AT THE CASTLE IN KENILWORTH: IN COVENTK » . 
MERRIDEW AND SON : AND IN LONDON BY LONGMAN ' !> 
CO. 5 HURST, ROBINSON, AND CO.; HARDING AND CO.; AND 
MR. WHITTAKER. 

MDCCCXXV. 



\© 






INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 



THE uncommon interest which has been excited by 
the admirable historical romance of Kenilworth, has in- 
duced the publisher of the present volume to reprint a 
contemporary account of the pageants at the Castle of the 
Earl of Leicester, with such revisions and improvements 
as might best qualify it for general reading. English 
prose, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was either harsh 
and unmusical in its own construction, or was rendered 
almost unintelligible by fantastical and romantic expres- 
sions, such as were used by Puttenham, Lilly, Henry 
Lite, Sir Philip Sidney, and others. Robert Laneham, 
the author of the following descriptive Letter, as an 
officer of the Court, naturally fell into the style of speak- 
ing and writing which was then fashionable j and ac- 
cordingly his sentences are often so metaphorical, or 
constructed of such singular expressions, that they would 
lead the plain and general reader to doubt what was his 
true meaning. Such, together with the affected and 
pedantic mode of spelling, were the publisher's motives 
for modernising this curious document, and for adding 
the explanatory notes which accompany it. By many 
his labours will doubtless be received with pleasure ; but 
to those who would tenaciously adhere to the very rust 
of antiquity, he would remark with an eminent biblio- 
graphical writer, that Laneham's language is not changed, 
but only " the dust is taken from his coat, and the tarnish 
from his lace." Having thus shewn the reasons which 
first induced a modern edition of this amusing detail of 
the Kenilworth festivities, it remains to give some ac- 
count of the author "Master Robert Laneham. 
. b 



IV INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

The little which is known concerning this person is 
chiefly to be found in his own work ; where, through his 
conceited style of writing, some circumstances of his life 
are preserved which must otherwise have remained for 
ever unknown. It would seem that Robert Laneham 
was born in the county of Nottingham, and that he was 
educated at St. Paul's school, and afterwards at that of 
St. Anthony, near the Royal Exchange, which, accord- 
ing to Stow, bore the highest " reputation in the City in 
former times." His father seems to have moved in a 
moderate, if not in a very inferior rank of life; for to- 
wards the conclusion of his letter, he states, that it was 
a great relief to his parent when the Earl of Leicester re- 
ceived him into favour and protection. Laneham appears 
to have held some situation in the Royal stables, where 
also his father was placed after his own advancement in 
the Court. In addition to this situation, Laneham pro- 
cured a patent, or licence, as it was then called, for 
serving the Royal Mews with beans, which, however, 
tie neglected when promoted to the office of Clerk of the 
Council-chamber door. It is to this office that he al- 
ludes in the commencement of his letter, when he says, 
that he had the power, on such days as the Council did 
not sit, to visit whatever he thought proper to see, as 
well as the privilege of being present at any exhibition 
which should be prepared for the Queen. Hence, it 
would appear, that Laneham's duty was not confined to 
keeping the entrance of the Council-Room only, but that 
he also performed the office of a Gentleman-Usher, in 
preserving the Presence-Chamber, wherever that might 
fee, free from the intrusion of strangers. It is evidently 
with this feeling that the author of " Kenilworth" makes 
Laneham say to his patron Leicester, when requesting 
that he may visit the Castle in the Queen's suite, " Be- 
think you, my Lord, how necessary is this rod of mine to 
fright away all those listeners, who else would play at 
bo-peep with the honourable Council, and be searching 
for key-holes and crannies in the door of the Chamber, 
so as to render my staff as needful as a fly-flap in a 
butcher's shop." Vol. ii. p. 115. 

It is not easy to imagine what the lordly and ambitious 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. V 

Dudley could have discovered in the conceited and talk- 
ative Laneham, to have induced him to become so ex- 
cellent a patron ; but the reasons might probably be, the 
boldness of the latter, joined to his knowledge of several 
foreign languages, which rendered him peculiarly fitted 
for the duties of a Gentleman-Usher, who could, with 
official importance, keep order in the Court, and con- 
verse, in their own tongues, with any of the numerous 
foreigners who visited it. Nor is this supposition found- 
ed upon speculation only, for towards the conclusion of 
this letter, Laneham expresses himself in terms like the 
following : " Now, Sir, when the Council sits, I am at 
hand, and attend them closely, I warrant you j if any 
should talk, then I say, ' Peace, know you where you 
are V If I see one listening either at the aperture in the 
door, or between the spaces of it, then presently I am 
upon him for his rudeness." In a very rare small duode- 
cimo volume, entitled, " The Rules of Civility; or Cer- 
tain Ways of Deportment observed .in France, amongst 
all Persons of Quality, upon several Occasions. London : 
1671," are some remarks on the behaviour of those who 
wait in the Presence and Anti-chambers, which tend 
particularly to illustrate this branch of Laneham's duty. 
The Courtier is informed, that " whilst he attends in the 
Anti-chamber or Presence-chamber, it is not decent to 
walk up and down the room ; and if at any time he does 
so, it is the Usher's duty and common practice to rebuke 
him. It is no less absurd to whistle or sing for his diver- 
tisement (as they call it) whilst he is in waiting in those 
rooms." Again, in speaking of first visiting the State 
Chambers, it is stated, that " it is uncivil to knock hard, 
or to give more than one knock." At the door of a bed- 
chamber " to knock is no less than brutish ; the way is, 
to scratch only with the nails. When he scratches with 
his nails at the King's bed-chamber door, or any other 
great person's, and the Usher demands his name, he 
must tell him his sirname only, without the qualification 
of Mr. S. or my Lord. When he comes into a great 
man's house, or chamber, it is not civil to wrap himself 
in his cloak; but in the King's Court he runs great 
hazard of correction. It is boldness to enter of himself 
b* 



VI INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

without being introduced. If it be of importance to him 
to enter, and there be nobody to introduce him, he must 
try gently whether the door be locked or bolted on the 
inside : if it be, he is not to knock or fiddle about the 
lock, like an impatient person, as if he would pick it, 
but he must patiently expect till it be opened, or scratch 
softly to make them hear : if nobody comes, he must re- 
tire to some distance, lest being found about the door, 
he should be taken as an eves-dropper, or spy, which 
would be a great offence to all persons of quality. It is 
but civil to walk with his hat off in the halls and Anti- 
chambers." Such were the regulations of conduct for- 
merly required among the higher ranks of society ; and 
these it was Laneham's office to see most punctiliously 
observed. With respect to his knowledge of " the 
tongues," as the ability to speak the Continental languages 
was in his time denominated, there is Laneham's own tes- 
timony concerning their utility ; for in the following letter 
he thus speaks : "And here do my languages now and then 
stand me in good stead; my French, my Spanish, my 
Dutch, and my Latin : sometimes among the Ambassa- 
dor's men, if their master be within Council ; sometimes 
with the Ambassador himself, if he desire me to call for 
his servant, or ask me what it is o'clock, and I warrant 
you I answer him so boldly, that they wonder to see 
such a fellow there." Besides these qualifications, Lane- 
ham had travelled, having been a Mercer and Merchant- 
adventurer ; and the very conceits he had brought with 
him from the Continent, had contributed to fit him for 
his duties in no ordinary manner. The Courtiers of 
Elizabeth's time, with a few exceptions, were young 
men of romantic and enthusiastic imaginations, full of 
love, chivalry, and poetical expressions ; and therefore, 
one who could ornament his conversation with fragments 
of foreign languages and flowery metaphors, was of all 
others fitted to be the amusing servant of such a Court. 
Laneham would indeed seem to have had qualifications 
of no ordinary degree ; for besides the knowledge of Con- 
tinental manners that he had acquired in his travels, his 
mind was well stored with ancient romances, chronicles, 
and poetry of all descriptions; and it was in consequence 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. Vll 

of this that he was so minute in his account of Captain 
Cox's library. Of his love for bibliography there can be 
no doubt, because in one part of his letter he thus 
speaks : '* I have leisure sometime when I attend not 
upon the Council ; whereby now I look on one book, 
and now on another. Stories I delight in, the more ancient 
and rare, the more likesome unto me." Surely such an 
assertion as this will be sufficient to rank the name of 
Robert Laneham with the most eminent of the lovers of 
early English poetry and romances of the present day. 

These, then, were probably the qualifications which 
procured for Laneham the favour of Leicester ; but it is 
much more difficult to explain a title which he applies to 
himself twice in the course of the following letter, name- 
ly, that of " The Black Prince." It might possibly be 
allusive to the sign by which his mercer's shop had been 
known in London, and this appears to be the most 
plausible supposition, for names so contrived might, at a 
former period, have been current among the tradesmen 
of commercial cities. It was also a common practice of 
Elizabeth's reign, especially with the higher orders of 
society, to invent romantic appellations for their most 
familiar acquaintance; but the first supposition is pro- 
bably the nearest to the truth, since Laneham makes 
use of the title when writing to an intimate friend, a 
citizen, and one in the same branch of business which 
he himself had followed. This circumstance serves to 
corroborate that it was a title used by his mercantile as- 
sociates, rather than one given him from a more fashion- 
able source. 

Such are nearly all the particulars now extant concern- 
ing Laneham ; and it is evident that these were in the 
mind of the author of " Kenilworth," when he wrote the 
admirable description of Laneham waiting in the anti- 
room at Greenwich palace, where he even notices the 
convivial habits of that singular character, which gave a 
flushed and rosy tint to his face. This information was 
first given by Laneham himself in the ensuing letter, and 
in the following terms : — " But in faith it is not so : for 
sipped I no more sack and sugar than I do malmsey, I 
should not blush so much now-a-days as I do." Having 



Vlll INTRODUCTORY J'REFACbl. 

now so long dilated upon Laneham's life and the duties 
of his station, it will not be uninteresting to extract his 
portrait from the Romance of " Kenilworth" itself; it may 
well be regarded as an authentic likeness, and nothing 
can more properly conclude these memoranda concern- 
ing him. "Then the Earl was approached, with several 
fantastic congtes, by a person quaintly dressed in a doub- 
let of black velvet, curiously slashed and pinked with 
crimson satin. A long cock's feather in the velvet bon- 
net, which he held in his hand, and an enormous ruff, 
stiffened to the extremity of the absurd taste of the 
times*, joined with a sharp, lively, conceited expression 



* Stubbes, who has denounced with much vehemence 
against the frivolities of the period of which we are speaking, 
and has given us a vituperative description of the fashions and 
abuses of apparel then prevalent, inveighs bitterly against all 
the extravagant minutiae of dress, from the feather in the cap 
to the spangle on the pantofle ; but his zealous fury is kindled 
into tenfold rage, and indeed he appears to have reached the 
climax of his execration, as he comes in contact with the 
manifold abominations of the ruff, and its diabolical auxiliary 
— starch. " They have," says he, ** great and monstrous 
ruffes, made either of cambricke, holland, lawne, or els of 
some other the finest cloth that can be got for money, whereof 
some be a quarter of a yarde deepe ; yea, some more, very few 
lesse ; so that they stande a full quarter of a yarde (and more) 
from their neckes, hanging over their shoulder-points, insteade 
of a vaile. But if vEolus with his blasts, or Neptune with his 
storms, chaunce to hit upon the crasie barke of their brused 
ruffes, then they goeth flipflap in the winde, like ragges that 
flew abroad, lying upon their shoulders like the dishcloute of a 
slut. But, wot you what ? The devil, as he, in the fullnesse 
of his malice, first invented these great ruffes, so hath he now 
found out also two gieat pillers to beare up and maintaine this 
his kyngdome of greate ruffes (for the devil is kyng and prince 
over all the children of pride). The one arche or piller, where- 
by his kyngdome of great ruffes is underpropped, is a certain 
kinde of liquid matter, which they call starch, wherein the 
devil hath willed them to wash and dive their ruffes well; 
which, beyng drie, Will then stand stiff and inflexible about 
their neckes. The other piller is a certaine device made of 
wiers, crested for the purpose, whipped over cither with gold, 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE IX 

of countenance, seemed to body forth a vain, hair-braiu- 
ed coxcomb* and small wit; while the rod he held, and 
an assumption of formal authority, appeared to express 
some sense of official consequence, which qualified the 
natural pertness of his manner. A perpetual blush, 
which occupied rather the sharp nose than the thin cheek 
of the personage, seemed to speak more of " good life," 
as it was called, than of modesty." — Vol. ii. p. 115. 

Having thus stated the few circumstances relating 
to the memoirs of Laneham, it remains only to add 
some bibliographical notices concerning the former 
editions of his letter. The original impressions of this 
tract are of extreme rarity ; but in the Bodleian Library 
at Oxford are two copies of it, although of different edi- 
tions : they are both printed in black letter, and are of a 
small octavo size, but they are both without either name 
or date. In 1784, Mr. J. Green, of Stratford-upon- 
Avon, in Warwickshire, published Laneham's Letter in 
an octavo form with a few notes; and this was in 1788 
succeeded by another reprint in quarto, which appeared 
in Mr. Nichols's most erudite work, entitled " The Pro- 
gresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth." 
Vol. i. The latter edition was also greatly improved by 
being a more accurate transcript of the original, and by 
having been revised from a copy in the possession of the 
Duchess of Portland. A third reprint will also be found 
in the first number of an expensive and beautiful work, 
entitled " Kenilworth Illustrated ;" and the pre- 
sent improved edition has been taken from a careful col- 
lation of the best which have preceded it. Laneham's 
Letter is not, however, the only curious morceau of lite- 
rature connected with the amusing Romance of Kenil- 
worth, to which this volume is intended as a very hum- 
ble appendage j for the original legend, which is pre- 
served in Ashmole's History of Berkshire, and Mickle's 

thred, silver, or silke ; and this he calleth a supportasse, or 
underpropper. This is to bee applied roundabout their neckes, 
under the ruffe, upon the outside of the bande, to beare up the 
whole frame and bodie of the ruffe from falling and hanging 
doune." — Anatomie of Abuses, 1583, duod. 



X INTRODUCTORY PttEFACE. 

beautiful ballad of Cumnor Hall, written in the manner 
of the metrical effusions of the reign of Elizabeth, that 
" reigne qfjaerie," as it has been termed, may both be 
considered as portions of the same subject ; and as neither 
of these are known, but to the curious reader, and con- 
tained in works of considerable scarcity, they are both 
here, it is hoped, not obtrusively, inserted. 

Cumnor, which is the seat of the Kenilworth tragedy, 
is a vicarage in the hundred of Hormer, and the Deanery 
of Abingdon, situated at the northern extremity of Berk- 
shire, about 5f miles distant from Abingdon, 3 from Ox- 
ford, and 6l from London. 

" At the west end of the church," says Ashmole, 
" are the ruins of a manor anciently belonging (as a cell, 
or a place of removal, as some report) to the monks of 
Abington. In the hall, over the chimney, I find Abing- 
ton arms cut in stone, viz. a patonce between four mart- 
lets ; and also another escutcheon, viz. a lion rampant, 
and several mitres cut in stone about the house. There 
is also in the said house a chamber, called Dudley's 
chamber, where the Earl of Leicester's wife was mur- 
dered, of which this is the story following : — 

" Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a very goodly 
personage, and singularly well featured, being a great fa- 
vourite with Queen Elizabeth, it was thought, and com- 
monly reported, that had he been a bachelor, or widower, 
the Queen would have made him her husband ; to this 
end, to free himself of all obstacles, he commands, or 
perhaps, with fair flattering entreaties, desires his 
wife to repose herself here, at his servant Anthony 
Forster's house, who then lived in the aforesaid manor- 
house ; and also prescribed to Sir Richard Varney, 
(a prompter to this design) at his coming hither, that 
he should first attempt to poison her, and if that did 
not take effect, then by any other way whatsoever to dis- 
patch her. This, it seems, was proved by the report of 
Dr. Walter Bayly, sometime Fellow of New College, 
then living in Oxford, and Professor of Physic in that 
University; who, because he would not consent to take 
away her life by poison, the Earl endeavoured to displace 
him from the Court. This man, it seems, reported for 
most certain, that there was a practice in Cumnor 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. XI 

among the conspirators, to have poisoned this poor inno- 
cent lady, a little before she was killed, which was at- 
tempted after this manner : They seeing the good lady 
sad and heavy (as one that well knew by her other hand- 
ling, that her death was not far off) began to persuade 
her, that her present disease was abundance of melan- 
choly and other humours, and therefore would needs 
counsel her to take some potion, which she absolutely 
refusing to do, as still suspecting the worst ; whereupon 
they sent a messenger on a day (unawares to her) for 
Dr. Bayly, and entreated him to persuade her to take 
some little potion by his direction, and they would fetch 
the same from Oxford, meaning to have added something 
of their own for her comfort, as the Doctor, upon just 
cause and consideration did suspect, seeing their great 
importunity, and the small need the Lady had of 
physic, and therefore he peremptorily denied their re- 
quest, misdoubting (as he afterwards reported) least if 
they had poisoned her under the name of his potion, he 
might have been hanged for a colour of their sin ; and 
the Doctor remained still well assured, that this way 
taking no effect, she would not long escape their violence, 
which afterwards happened thus : — For Sir Richard Var- 
ney abovesaid (the chief projector in this design), who by 
the Earl's order remained that day of her death alone 
with her, with one man only, and Forster, who had that 
day forcibly sent away all her servants from her to 
Abingdon-market, about three miles distant from this 
place, they (I say, whether first stifling her, or else 
strangling her) afterwards flung her down a pair of stairs, 
and broke her neck, using much violence upon her ; but 
however, though it was vulgarly reported that she by 
chance fell down stairs (but yet without hurting her 
hood that was upon her head), yet the inhabitants will 
tell you there, that she was conveyed from her usual 
chamber where she lay, to another where the bed's-head 
of the chamber stood close to a privy postern door, 
where they in the night came and stifled her in her bed, 
bruised her head very much, broke her neck, and at 
length flung her down stairs, thereby believing the world 
would have thought it a mischance, and so have blinded 



Xll INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

their villainy. But behold the mercy and justice of 
God, in revenging and discovering this Lady's murder; 
for one of the persons, that was a coadjutor in this mur- 
der, was afterwards taken for a felony in the Marches of 
Wales, and offering to publish the manner of the afore- 
said murder, was privately made away with in the prison 
by the Earl's appointment. And Sir Richard Varney, 
the other, dying about the same time in London, cried 
miserably, and blasphemed God, and said to a person of 
note (who hath related the same to others since) not long 
before his death, that all the devils in hell did tear him 
in pieces. Forster likewise, after this fact, being a man 
formerly addicted to hospitality, company, mirth, and 
music, was afterwards observed to forsake all this with 
such melancholy and pensiveness (some say with mad- 
ness), pined and drooped away. The wife also of Bald. 
Butler, kinsman to the Earl, gave out the whole fact a 
little before her death. Neither are these following pas- 
sages to be forgotten — that as soon as ever she was mur- 
dered, they made great haste to bury her, before the 
Coroner had given in his Inquest, (which the Earl him- 
self condemned as not done advisedly) which her father, 
or Sir John Robertsett (as 1 suppose), hearing of, came 
with all speed hither, caused her corpse to be taken up, 
the Coroner to sit upon her, and further enquiry to be 
made concerning this business to the full, but it was 
generally thought that the Earl stopped his mouth, and 
made up the business betwixt them ; and the good Earl, 
to make plain to the world, the great love he bare to her 
while alive, what a grief the loss of so virtuous a lady was 
to his tender heart, caused (though the thing, by these 
and other means, was beaten into the heads of trie prin- 
cipal men of the University of Oxford) her body to be 
re-buried in St. Marie's Church in Oxford, with great 

Comp and solemnity. It is remarkable, when Dr. Ba- 
ington (the Earl's chaplain) did preach the funeral 
sermon, he tripped once or twice in his speech, by recom- 
mending to their memories that virtuous Lady so pitifully 
murdered, instead of 'saying pitifully slain. This Earl,after all 
his murders and poisonings, was himself poisoned by that 
which was prepared for others (some say by his wife) at 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. Xlll 

Cornbury Lodge, before mentioned, though Baker in his 
Chronicle would have it at Killingworth, Anno 1588." — 
Ashmole's Antiquities of Berkshire, edit. 1723. 8vo. vol. i. 
p. 149—154. 

The ballad of Cumnor Hall was first printed in 
Evans's Collection of Old Ballads, edit. 1784, vol. iv. 
with the antique spelling of Queen Elizabeth's period : — 
in a subsequent edition of this interesting work, in 1810, 
the poem was modernized, and from that, the present 
excerpt has been made which is now presented to the 
reader : — 



CUMNOR HALL. 

The dews of summer night did fall, 
The moon, sweet regent of the sky, 

Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall, 
And many an oak that grew thereby. 

Now nought was heard beneath the skies, 
The sounds of busy life were still, 

Save an unhappy lady's sighs, 
That issued from that lonely pile. 

" Leicester," she cried, " is this thy love 
" That thou so oft has sworn to me, 

" To leave me in this lonely grove, 
** Immured in shameful privity ? 

" No more thou comest with lover's sj:eed, 
*' Thy once beloved bride to see ; 

" But be she alive, or be she dead, 

" I fear, stem Earl,'s the same to thee. 

" Not so the usage I receiv'd 

" When happy in my father's hall : 

" No faithless husband then me griev'd ; 
" No chilling fears did me appal. 

" I rose up with the cheerful morn, 
" No lark more blithe, no flow'r more gay ; 

" And, like the bird that haunts the thorn, 
" So merrily sung the live-long day. 



XIV INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

" If that my beauty is but small, 
" Among court ladies all despis'd ; 

" Why didst thou rend it from that hall, 
" Where, scornful Earl, it well was priz'd ? 

" And when you first to me made suit, 
" How fair I was you oft would say ! 

" And, proud of conquest — pluck'd the fruit, 
" Then left the blossom to decay. 

" Yes, now neglected and despis'd, 
" The rose is pale — the lily 's dead — 

" But he that once their charms so priz'd, 
" Is, sure, the cause those charms are fled. 

" For know, when sick'ning grief doth prey, 
" And tender love 's repaid with scorn, 

" The sweetest beauty will decay — 
" What flow'ret can endure the storm ? 

" At court, I 'm told, is beauty's throne, 
" Where every lady 's passing rare ; 

" That eastern fiow'rs, that shame the sun, 
" Are not so glowing, not so fair. 

" Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds 
" Where roses and where lilies vie, 

" To seek a primrose, whose pale shades 
" Must sicken — when those gaudes are by ? 

" 'Mong rural beauties I was one, 

" Among the fields wild flow'rs are fair ; 

" Some country swain might me have won, 
" And thought my beauty passing rare. 

" But, Leicester, or I much am wrong, 
" Or 'tis not beauty lures thy vows ; 

" Rather ambition's gilded crown 

" Makes thee forget thy humble spouse. 

" Then, Leicester, why, again I plead, 
" (The injur'd surely may repine,) 

" Why didst thou wed a country maid, 

" When some fair princess might be thine ? 



INTRODUCTORY PRKFACE. XV 

" Why didst thou praise my humble charms, 
" And oh ! then leave them to decay ? 

" Why didst thou win me to thy arms, 

" Then leave me to mourn the live-long day ? 

" The village maidens of the plain 

" Salute me lowly as they go ; 
" Envious they mark my silken train, 

" Nor think a Countess can have woe. 

" The simple nymphs ! they little know ; 

" How far more happy 's their estate — 
" To smile for joy — than sigh for woe — 

" To be content — than to be great. 

" How far less blest am I than them ! 

" Daily to pine and waste with care ! 
" Like the poor plant that from its stem 

" Divided, feels the chilling air. 

" Nor, cruel Earl ! can I enjoy 

" The humble charms of solitude ; 
" Your minions proud my peace destroy, 

" By sullen frowns or pratings rude. 

" Last night, as sad I chanc'd to stray, 
" The village death-bell smote my ear ; 

" They wink'd aside, and seem'd to say. 
" Countess, prepare — thy end is near. 

" And now, while happy peasants sleep, 

" Here I sit lonely and forlorn ; 
" No one to soothe me as I weep, 

" Save Philomel on yonder thorn. 

" My spirits flag — my hopes decay — 

" Still that dread death-bell smites my ear ; 

" And many a boding seems to say, 
" Countess, prepare — thy end is near." 

Thus sore and sad that lady griev'd, 

In Cumnor Hall so lone and drear, 
And many a heart-felt sigh she heav'd, 

And let fall many a bitter tear. 



XVI INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

And ere the dawn of dav appear'd 
In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear, 

Full many a piercing scream was heard, 
And many a cry of mortal fear. 

The death-bell thrice was heard to ring, 
An aerial voice was heard to call, 

And thrice the raven flapp'd its wings 
Around the tow'rs of Cumnor Hall. 

The mastiff howl'd at village door, 
The oaks were shatter'd on the green ; 

Woe was the hour — for never more 
That hapless Countess e'er was seen. 

And in that manor now no more 
Is cheerful feast and sprightly ball, 

For ever since that dreary hour, 
Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall. 

The village maids, with fearful glance, 
Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall ; 

Nor ever lead the merry dance, 

Among the groves of Cumnor Hall. 

Full many a traveller oft hath sigh'd, 
And pensive wept the Countess' fall, 

As wandering onwards they've espied 
The haunted tow'rs of Cumnor Hall. 



A LETTER: 

Z&bmin part of t&e (Entertain* 
ment unto t&e Cuieen's agajestp 

at ItiUingtoort!) iftaatl in ftOartt) tfcsljc er 

tn tt)t0 g>om*r0 ©rogreas— 1575 te 

stgrufietJ : from a freentJ officer 

attendant in tfje iftourt unto 

Bia fr**n& a O^tti^en 

an& jfttirt fpaimt 

of Hontron. 

DE REGINA NOSTRA ILLUSTRISSTMA. 

Dum laniata mat vicina ob Regno, tumultus, 
Loeta suos inter genialibus ILLA diebus 
(Gratia Diis) fruitur : Rupantur <§f ilia Codro. 



KENILWORTH 



UNTO MY GOOD FRIEND, 
MASTER HUMPHREY MARTIN, Mercer. 




FTER my hearty commenda- 
tions, I commend me heart- 
ily to you. Understand ye, 
that since, through God and 
good friends, I am here placed 
at Court, as you know, in a 
worshipful room, whereby I am not only acquaint- 
ed with the most, and well known to the best, and 
every officer glad of my company ; but also at pre- 
sent have power, while the Council sits not, to go 
and to see things sight-worthy ; and to be pre- 
sent at any show or spectacle, any where this 
progress represented unto her Highness: of 



2 KENILWORTH. 

part of which sports, having taken some notes 
and observations — for I cannot be idle at 
any rate in the world — as well to put from me 
suspicion of sluggishness, as to take from you 
any doubt of my forgetfulness of your friend- 
ship ; I have thought it meet to impart them 
unto you, as frankly, as friendly, and as fully, 
as I can. You know well, the Black Prince 
was never stained with disloyalty of ingratitude 
towards any; I dare be his warrant he will 
not begin with you, that hath at his hand so 
deeply deserved. But herein, the better for 
conceiving of my mind, and instruction of 
you^s, you must give me leave a little, as well 
to preface my matter, as to discourse somewhat 
of Killingworth Castle, a territory of the right 
honourable, my singular good Lord, my Lord 
the Earl of Leicester ; of whose incomparable 
cheer and entertainment there unto her Majesty, 
I will show you a part, here, that could not see 
all ; nor, had I seen all, could well report the 
half. Where things for the persons, place, 
time, cost, devices, strangeness and abundance, 
of all that ever I saw (and yet have I been, what 



KEN1LWORTH. {>, 

under my Master Bomsted, and what on my 
own affairs, while I occupied merchandise, both 
in France and Flanders long and many a day,) I 
saw none any where so memorable, I tell you plain. 
The Castle hath the name of Killingworth, but 
of truth, grounded upon faithful story, Kenil- 
wortl}. It stands in Warwickshire, seventy-four 
miles north-west from London, and as it were 
in the centre of England ; four miles somewhat 
south from Coventry, a proper City ; and a like 
distance from Warwick, a fair County-town on 
the north. Of air sweet and wholesome, raised 
on an easily mounted hill, it is set evenly coasted 
with the front strait to the east, and hath 
the tenants and town about it, that pleasantly 
shift from dale to hill sundry where, with sweet 
springs bursting forth ; and is so plentifully well 
sorted on every side into arable, mead, pasture, 
wood, water, and good air, as it appears to 
have need of nothing that may pertain to living 
or pleasure. To advantage, it hath, hard on the 
west, still nourished with many lively springs, 
a goodly pool of rare beauty, breadth, length, 
depth, and store of all kinds of fresh-water 
b 3 



4 KE NIL WORTH. 

fish, delicate, great, and fat ; and also of wild 
fowl beside. By a rare situation and natural 
agreement, this pool seems conjoined to the 
Castle, that on the west lays the head, as it 
were, upon the Castle's bosom, embraceth it on 
either side, south and north, with both the arms, 
and settles itself as in a reach a flight-shoot 
broad, stretching forth body and legs a mile 
or two westward: between a fair park on the 
one side, which by the brays is linked to the 
Castle on the south, sprinkled at the entrance 
with a few conies, that for colour and smallness 
of number seem to be suffered more for plea- 
sure than commodity : And on the other side, 
north and west, a goodly chase ; vast, wide, 
large, and full of red-deer and other stately 
game for hunting : Beautified with many delec- 
table, fresh, and shaded bowers, arbours, seats, 
and walks, that with great art, cost, and diligence 
were very pleasantly appointed : Which also the 
natural grace, by the tall and fresh fragrant trees 
and soil, did so far forth commend, as Diana 
herself might have deigned there well enough to 
range for her pastime. 



KEN1LW0RTH. 5 

The left arm of this pool, northward, hath my 
Lord adorned with a beautiful bracelet of a fair 
timbered bridge, that is of fourteen feet wide and 
six hundred feet long ; railed on both sides, 
strongly planked for passage, reaching from the 
chase to the Castle. That thus in the midst it hath 
clear prospect over these pleasures on the back 
part ; and forward over all the town, and much 
of the country beside. 

Here, too, is a special commodity at hand of 
sundry quarries of large building stone, the 
goodness whereof may the more easily be judged, 
in the building and ancient stateliness of the 
Castle, that (as by the name and histories well may 
be gathered) was first reared by Kenulph, and his 
young son Kenelm, born both indeed within 
the realm here, but yet of the race of Saxons ; 
and reigned Kings of Marchland from the year 
of our Lord 798, for 23 years together, above 
770 years ago ; although the Castle hath one 
ancient, strong, and large keep, that is called 
Caesar's Tower, rather, as I have good cause to 
think, for that it is square and high, formed 
after the manner of Caesar^s Forts, than that ever 



D K EX IL WORTH. 

he built it. Nay, now that I am a little in, 
Master Martin, I will tell you all. 

This Marchland, that stories call Mercia, is 
numbered in their books the fourth of the seven 
kingdoms that the Saxons had whilom here 
divided among them in the realm. It began in 
Anno Dom. 616, one hundred and thirty-nine 
years after Horsa and Hengist ; continued in 
the race of 17 kings, 249 years together, and 
ended in Anno 875, raised from the rest (says 
the book) at first by Penda's presumption, over- 
thrown at last by Buthred's hascardy, and 
so fell to the kingdom of the West-Saxons. 
Marchland had in it London, Middlesex, herein 
a bishopric: had more of shires, Gloucester, 
Worcester, and Warwick, and herein a bishop- 
ric ; Chester (that now we call Cheshire), Derby, 
and Stafford, whereunto one bishop that had 
also part of Warwick and Shrewsbury, and his 
See at Coventry that was then aforetime at Lich- 
field : Hereto Hereford, wherein a bishopric 
that had more to jurisdiction, half Shrewsbury, 
part of Warwick and also of Gloucester, and the 
See at Hereford : Also had Oxford, Bucking- 



KENILWGRTH. 7 

ham, Hertford, Huntingdon, and half of Bed- 
ford ; and to these Northampton, part of Lei- 
cester, and also Lincoln, whereunto a bishop; 
whose See at Lincoln Citv that sometime before 
was at Dorchester : hereto the rest of Leicester and 
in Nottingham, that of old had a special bishop, 
whose See was at Leicester, but afterwards put 
to the charge of the Archbishop of York, 

Now touching the name, that of old records I 
understand, and of ancient writers I find, is 
called Kenilworth ; since most of the Worths 
in England stand nigh unto like lakes, and are 
either small islands, such one as the seat of this 
Castle hath been and easily may be, or is land- 
ground by pool or river, whereon willows, alders, 
or such like do grow : Which Althamerus writes 
precisely that the Germans call S£!l£tl)[ ♦ j omm g 
these two together with the nighness also of 
the words and sybred of the tongues. I am the 
bolder to pronounce, that as our English Worth, 
with the rest of our ancient language, was left 
us from the Germans, even so that their Werd 
and our Worth is all one thing in signification, 



8 KENILWORTII. 

common to us both even at this day. I take the 
case so clear, that I say not so much as I might. 
Thus proface ye with the preface ; and now to 
the matter. 

On Saturday the ninth of July, at long 
Ichington, a town and lordship of my Lord^s, 
within seven miles of Killingworth, his Honor 
made her Majesty great cheer at dinner, and 
pleasant pastime in hunting by the way after, 
that it was eight o'clock in the evening ere her 
Highness came to Killingworth; where in the 
park, about a flight-shoot from the brays and 
first gate of the Castle, one of the ten Sibyls, that 
we read were all Fatidicce and Theobulce, as 
parties and privy to the Gods' gracious good 
wills, comely clad in a pall of white silk, 
pronounced a proper poesy in English rhyme 
and metre : of effect, how great gladness her 
goodness' presence* brought into every stead 
where it pleased her to come, and especially 
now into that place that had so long longed after 

* The other of the early copies reads "gracious 
presence/' 



KENIL WORTH. 9 

the same ; ending with prophecy certain of 
much and long prosperity, health, and felicity. 
This her Majesty benignly accepting, passed 
forth unto the next gate of the brays, which for 
the length, largeness and use, ( as well it may so 
serve) they call now the tilt-yard, where a porter, 
tall of person, big of limb, and stern of counte- 
nance, wrapped also all in silk, with a club and 
keys of quantity according, had a rough speech 
full of passions, in metre aptly made to the 
purpose : Whereby ( as her Highness was 
come within his ward,) he burst out in a great 
pang of impatience to see such uncouth trudging 
to and fro, such riding in and out, with such din 
and noise of talk within the charge of his office, 
whereof he never saw the like, nor had any 
warning afore, nor yet could make to himself 
any cause of the matter. At last, upon better 
view and avisement, as he pressed to come nearer, 
confessing anon that he found himself pierced at 
the presence of a personage so evidently express- 
ing an heroical sovereignty over all the whole 
estates, and by degrees there beside, calmed his as- 
tonishment, proclaims open gates and free passage 



10 KENILWORTU. 

to all, yields up his club, his keys, his office and 
all, and on his knees humbly prays pardon of his 
ignorance and impatience ; which her Highness 
graciously granting, he caused his trumpeters that 
stood upon the wall of the gate there, to sound 
up a tune of welcome; which, beside the noble 
noise, was so much the more pleasant to behold, 
because these trumpeters, being six in number, 
were every one eight feet high, in due proportion 
of person beside, all in long garments of silk 
suitable, each with his silvery trumpet of five 
feet long, formed taper-wise, and straight from 
the upper part unto the lower end, where the 
diameter was 16 inches over ; and yet so tempered 
by art, that being very easy to the blast, they 
cast forth no greater noise, nor a more unpleasant 
sound for time and tune, than any other common 
trumpet, be it never so artificially formed. These 
harmonious blasters, from the foreside of the gate, 
at her Highness' entrance, where they began: 
walking upon the walls unto the inner [court], had 
this music maintained from them very delectably, 
while her Highness all along this tilt-yard rode 
unto the inner gate, next the base-court of the 



KEN1LW0RTH. 1 I 

Castle, where the Lady of the Lake, (famous in 
King Arthur's book) with two nymphs waiting 
upon her, arrayed all in silks, awaited her High- 
ness^ coming: From the midst of the pool, where 
upon a movable island, bright blazing with torches, 
she floated to land, and met her Majesty with a 
well-penned metre and matter after this sort: 
[viz.] First, of the ancestry of the Castle, who had 
been owners of the same e'en till this day, most 
always in the hands of the Earls of Leicester ; 
how she had kept this Lake since King Arthur's 
days ; and now, understanding of her Highness's 
hither coming, thought it both her office and 
duty in humble wise to discover her and her 
estate; offering up the same, her lake, and 
power therein, with promise of repair unto 
the Court. It pleased her Highness to thank 
this lady, and to add withall : " We had 
thought indeed the Lake had been ours, and 
do you call it yours now ? Well, we will herein 
commune more with you hereafter." 

This pageant was closed up with a delectable 
harmony of hautboys, shalms, cornets, and such 
other loud music, that held on while her Majesty 



12 KE3JILWORTH. 

pleasantly so passed from thence toward the 
Castle-gate ; whereunto, from the base-court, over 
a dry valley cast into a good form, there was 
framed a fair bridge of twenty feet wide, and se- 
venty feet long, gravelled for treading, railed on 
either part with seven posts on a side, that stood 
twelve feet asunder, thickened between with 
well-proportioned turned pillars. 

Upon the first pair of posts were set two 
comely square wire cages, three feet long, and 
two feet wide ; and high in them live bitterns, 
curlews, shovelers, hernshaws, godwits, and 
such like dainty birds, of the presents of Sylva- 
nus, the God of fowl. On the second pair two 
great silvered bowls, featly apted to the pur- 
pose, filled with apples, pears, cherries, filberds, 
walnuts, fresh upon their branches, and with 
oranges, pomegranates, lemons, and pippins, all 
for the gifts of Pomona, Goddess of fruits. The 
third pair of posts, in two such silvered bowls, 
had (all in ears green and old) wheat, barley, 
oats, beans, and pease, as the gifts of Ceres. The 
fourth post, on the left hand, in a like silvered 
bowl, had grapes in clusters, white and red, 



KF.XIL WORTH. 13 

gratified with their vine leaves: The match 
post against it had a pair of great white silver 
livery pots for wine : and before them two glasses 
of good capacity, filled full ; the one with white 
wine, the other with claret, so fresh of co- 
lour, and of look so lovely, smiling to the eye 
of many, that by my faith methought, by their 
leering, they could have found in their hearts, (as 
the evening was hot,) to have kissed them sweetly 
and thought it no sin: And these were the 
potencial presents of Bacchus, the God of wine. 
The fifth pair had each a fair large tray, strewed 
with fresh grass * ; and in them conger, burt, 
mullet, fresh herrings, oysters, salmon, crevis, 
and such like, from Neptunus, God of the sea. 
On the sixth pair of posts were set two ragged 
staves of silver, as my Lord gives them in his 
arms, beautifully glittering of armour, there- 
upon depending bows, arrows, spears, shield, 
head-piece, gorget, corslets, swords, targets, and 
such like, for Mars* gifts, the God of war. And 

* In the other early copy " strewed a little with fresh 

grass." 



14 KEN IT. WORTH. 

the aptlier (methought) was it that those ragged 
staves supported these martial presents, as well 
because these staves by their tines seem naturally 
meet for the bearing of armour, as also that 
they chiefly in this place might take upon them 
the principal protection of her Highness's person, 
that so benignly pleased her to take harbour. 
On the seventh posts, the last and next to the 
Castle, were there pight two fair bay branches of 
four feet high, adorned on all sides with lutes, 
viols, shalms, cornets, flutes, recorders, and harps, 
as the presents of Phcebus, the God of music, for 
rejoicing the mind, and also of physic, for health 
to the body. 

Over the Castle-gate was there fastened a table 
beautifully garnished above with her Highness's 
arms, and featly with ivy wreaths bordered about, 
often feet square : the ground black, whereupon, 
in large white capital Roman fairly written, was 
a poem mentioning these Gods and their gifts, 
thus presented unto her Highness : which, be- 
cause it remained unremoved, at leisure and plea- 
sure I took it out, as followeth : — 



KE NIL WORTH. 15 

AD MAJESTATEM REGIAM. 

Jupiter hue certos cernens te tendere gressus, 
Cselicolas Princeps actutum convocat Omnes: 
Obsequium praestare jubet Tibi quenque benignum. 
Unde suas Sylvanus Aves, Pomonaque fructus, 
Alma Ceres fruges, hilarantia vina Liaeus, 
Neptunus pisces, tela et tutantia Manors, 
Suave Melos Phoebus, solidamq; longamq; salutem. 
Dii Tibi Regina haec (cum sis Dignissima) praebent : 
Hoc Tibi, cum Domino, dedit se et werda Kenelmi. 

All the letters that mention her Majesty, which 
are here put in capitals, for reverence and honour, 
were there made in gold. 

But the night well spent, for that these verses 
by torch-light could easily be read; a poet, there- 
fore, in a long ceruleous garment, with side [i. e. 
long] and wide sleeves, Venetian-wise drawn up 
to his elbow, his doublet sleeves under that, of 
crimson, nothing but silk ; a bay garland on his 
head, and a scroll in his hand, making first an 
humble obeisance at her Highnesses coming, and 
pointing unto every present as he spake, the same 
were pronounced. Thus viewing the gifts, as 



]6 KEXJLWORTU. 

she passed, and how the posts might agree with 
the speech of the poet : At the end of the bridge 
and entry of the gate, was her Highness received 
with a fresh delicate harmony of flutes, in per- 
formance of ' PhcebutP presents. 

So passing into the inner court, her Majesty 
(that never rides but alone) there, set down 
from her palfrey, was conveyed up to her cham- 
ber : When after did follow so great a peal of 
guns, and such lightening by fire-work a long 
space together, as though Jupiter would have 
shown himself to be no further behind with his 
welcome than the rest of his Gods : and that 
he would have all the country to know, for in- 
deed the noise and flame were heard and seen 
twenty miles off. Thus much, Master Martin , 
(that I remember me) for the first day's blen 
venu. Be you not weary, for I am scant in the 
midst of my matter. 

On Sunday, the forenoon occupied as for 
the Sabbath-day, in quiet and vacation from 
work, and in divine service and preaching at the 
parish church : the afternoon in excellent music 
of sundry sweet instruments, and in dancing of 



KENILWOItTH. 17 

Lords and Ladies, and other worshipful degrees, 
uttered with such lively agility, and commend- 
able grace, as whether it might be more strange 
to the eye, or pleasant to the mind, for my part 
indeed I could not discern ; but it was exceed- 
ingly well, methought, in both. 

At night late, as though Jupiter the last night 
had forgot for business, or forborne for courtesy 
and quiet, part of his welcome unto her High- 
ness appointed, now entering at the first into his 
purpose moderately (as mortals do) with a warn- 
ing piece or two, proceeding on with increase, 
till at last the Altitonant [i. e. High Thunderer,] 
displays me his main power; with blaze of burn- 
ing darts flying to and fro, learns of stars 
coruscant, streams and hail of fiery sparks, light- 
nings of wildfire on water and land, flight and 
shooting of thunderbolts, all with such conti- 
nuance, terror and vehemency, that the hea- 
vens thundered, the waters surged, the earth 
shook, and in such sort surely, as had we not 
been assured that the fulminant Deity was all 
hot in amity, and could not otherwise testify his 
welcome unto her Highness, it would have 
c 



18 KEXII.WOKTIT. 

made me for my part, as hardy as I am, very 
vengeably afraid. This ado lasted until the 
midnight Mas passed, that it seemed well with 
me soon after, when I found me in my cabin. 
And this for the second day. 

Monday was hot, and therefore her Highness 
kept in till five o'clock in the evening ; what 
time it pleased her to ride forth into the chase 
to hunt the hart of force : which found anon, and 
after sore chased, and chafed by the hot pursuit 
of the hounds, was fain of fine force, at last to 
take soil. There to behold the swift fleeting of 
the deer afore with the stately carriage of his 
head in his swimming, spread (for the quantity) 
like the sail of a ship ; the hounds harrowing 
after as they had been a number of skiffs to 
the spoil of a Carvell : the one no less eager in 
purchase of his prey, than was the other earnest 
in safeguard of his life : so as the yearning of the 
hounds in continuance of their cry, the swift- 
ness of the deer, the running of footmen, the 
galloping of horses, the blasting of horns, 
the hallooing and shouting of the huntsmen, 
with the excellent echoes between whiles from 



KEXILWORTH. 19 

the woods and waters in valleys resounding ; 
moved pastime delectable in so high a degree 
as for any person to take pleasure by most 
senses at once; in mine opinion, there can be 
none in any way comparable to this : and 
'specially in this place, that of nature is formed 
so fit for the purpose ; in faith, Master Martin, 
if ye could with a wish, I would you had been 
at it : Well, the hart was killed, a goodly deer, 
but so ceased not the game yet. 

For about nine o'clock, at the hither part of the 
chase, where torch light attended, out of the 
woods, in her Majesty's return, there came 
roughly forth Hombre Salvagio [i. e. a Savage 
Man,] with an oaken plant plucked up by the 
roots in his hand, himself foregrown all in moss 
and ivy ; who, for personage, gesture, and 
utterance beside, countenanced the matter to 
very good liking ; and had speech to this effect : 
— That continuing so long in these wild wastes, 
wherein oft had he fared both far and near, yet 
happed he never to see so glorious an assembly 
before : and now cast into great grief of mind, for 
that neither by himself could he guess, nor knew 
c 2 



20 KEXIL WORTH. 

where else to be taught, what they should be, or 
who bare estate. Reports, some had he heard of 
many strange things, but broiled thereby so much 
the more in desire of knowledge. Thus, in great 
pangs, bethought he, and called he upon all 
his familiars and companions, the fawns, the 
satyrs, the nymphs, the dryades, and the hama- 
dryades ; but none making answer, whereby his 
care the more increasing, in utter grief and 
extreme refuge, called he aloud at last after his 
old friend Echo, that he wist would hide no- 
thing from him, but tell him all, if she were 
here. "Here" (quoth Echo.) " Here, Echo, 
and art thou there ?" (says he) "Ah ! how much 
hast thou relieved my careful spirits with thy 
courtesy onward. Ay me, good Echo, here 
is a marvellous presence of dignity ; what are 
they, I pray thee, who is Sovereign, tell me, I 
beseech thee, or else how might I know ?" " I 
know,"" (quoth she.) " Knowest thou p 1 * says 
he ; " marry, that is exceedingly well : Why then, 
I desire thee, heartily show me what majesty, 
(for no mean degree is it) have we here : a 
King, or a Queen P" "A Queen !" (quoth Echo.) 



KENILWOIITH. 21 

"A Queen !"" says he, pausing, and wisely viewing 
awhile, " now full certainly seems thy tale to 
be true." And proceeding by this manner of 
dialogue, with an earnest beholding her High- 
ness awhile, recounts he, first, how justly that 
former reports agree with his present sight, 
touching the beautiful lineaments of counte- 
nance, the comely proportion of body, the 
princely grace of presence, the gracious gifts of 
nature, with the rare and singular qualities of 
both body and mind in her Majesty conjoined, 
and so apparent at eye. Then shortly rehears- 
ing Saturday's acts, of SibyVs salutation ; of the 
Porter's proposition ; of his Trumpeters music ; 
of the Lake Lady's oration, and of the seven 
Gods 1 seven presents, he reported the incredible 
joy that all estates in the land have always of 
her Highness wheresoever she came; ending 
with presage and prayer of perpetual felicity, and 
with humble subjection of him and his, and 
all that they may do. After this sort the 
matter went, with little difference, I guess, sa- 
ving only in this point, that the thing which 
I here report in unpolished prose, was there 



22 Kenilwokth. 

pronounced in good metre and matter, very 
well endited in rhyme. Echo finely framed, 
most aptly, by answers thus to utter all. And 
I shall tell you, Master Martin, by the mass, 
of a mad adventure — As this Savage, for 
the more submission, broke his tree asunder, 
and cast the top from him, it had almost light 
upon her Highness's horse's head ; whereat 
he startled, and the gentleman much dis- 
mayed. See the benignity of the prince : as 
the footmen looked well to the horse, and he 

of generosity soon calmed of himself "No 

hurt, No hurt," quoth her Highness. Which 
words, I promise you, we were all glad to hear, 
and took them to be the best part of the play. 

Tuesday, pleasant passing of the time with 
music and dancing; saving that toward night 
it liked her Majesty to walk afoot into the chase 
over the bridge, where it pleased her to stand : 
while upon the pool, out of a barge, finely 
appointed for the purpose, to hear sundry kinds 
of very delectable music ; thus recreated, and 
after some walk, her Highness returned. 

Wednesday, Her Majesty rode into the chase 






KENILWORTH. 23 

a hunting again of the hart of force. The 
deer, after his property, for refuge took the soil ; 
but so mastered by hot pursuit on all parts, 
that he was taken quick in the pool : The 
watermen held him up hard by the head, while 
at her Highness's commandment, he lost his ears 
for a ransom, and so had pardon for life. 

Thursday, the fourteenth of this July, and 
the sixth day of her Majesty's coming, a great 
sort of Ban-dogs were there tied in the outer 
court, and thirteen bears in the inner. Whoso- 
ever made the pannel, there were enough for a 
quest, and one for challenge an need were. A 
wight of great wisdom and gravity seemed their 
foreman to be, had it come to a jury ; but it fell 
i out that they were caused to appear there upon 
no such matter, but only to answer to an 
ancient quarrel between them and the Ban- 
dogs, in a cause of controversy that had long 
depended, been obstinately full often debated, 
with sharp and biting arguments on both 
sides, and could never be decided : grown 
now to so marvellous a malice, that with 
spiteful upbraidings and uncharitable chaffings, 



24 KENIL WORTH. 

always they fret, as any where the one can 
hear, see, or smell the other : and indeed at 
utter deadly feud. Many a maimed member, 
(God wot) bloody face, and a torn coat, hath the 
quarrel cost between them ; so far likely the less 
yet now to be appeased, as there wants not 
partakers to back them on both sides. 

Well, Sir, the bears were brought forth into 
the court, the dogs set to them to argue the 
points even face to face; they had learned 
counsel also on both parts: what, may they be 
counted partial that are retainers but to a side ? 
I ween no. Very fierce both the one and the 
other, and eager in argument: if the dog in 
pleading should pluck the bear by the throat, 
the bear with traverse would claw him again by 
the scalp : Confess an he list, but avoid he could 
not, that was bound to the bar ; and his counsel 
told him that it could be to him no policy in plead- 
ing. Therefore thus with 'fending and proving, 
with plucking and tugging, scratching and biting, 
by plain tooth and nail on one side and the other, 
such expense of blood and leather was there 
between them, as a month's licking, I ween, will 



KENIL WORTH. 25 

not recover; and yet remain as far out as ever 
they were. 

It was a sport very pleasant of these beasts ; 
to see the bear with his pink eyes leering after 
his enemies approach, the nimbleness and wait 
of the dog to take his advantage, and the force 
and experience of the bear again to avoid the 
assault: If he was bitten in one place, how he 
would pinch in another to get free ; that if he 
was taken once, then what shift, with biting, with 
clawing, with roaring, tossing and tumbling, he 
would work to wind himself from them ; and when 
he was loose, to shake his ears twice or thrice 
with the blood and the slaver about his physiog- 
nomy, was a matter of a goodly relief. 

As this sport was held at day-time, in the 
Castle, so was there abroad at night very 
strange and sundry kinds of fire-works, compelled 
by cunning to fly to and fro, and to mount very 
high into the air upward, and also to burn 
unquenchably beneath the water, contrary, ye 
wot, to fire's kind : This intermingled with a 
great peal of guns, which all gave both to the 
ear and to the eye the greater grace and delight, 



26 KEN1LW0RTH. 

for that with such order and art they were 
tempered, touching time and continuance, that 
was about two hours space. 

Now, within also, in the mean time, was there 
showed before her Highness, by an Italian, such 
feats of agility, in goings, turnings, tumblings, 
castings, hops, jumps, leaps, skips, springs, 
gambols, summersets, caperings, and flights ; 
forward, backward, sideways, downward, and 
upward, with sundry windings, gyrings and 
circumflexions ; all so lightly and with such 
easiness, as by me, in few words, it is not ex- 
pressible by pen or speech, I tell you plainly. I 
blessed me, by my faith, to behold him ; and 
began to doubt whether it was a man or a spirit ; 
and I ween had doubted me till this day, had it 
not been that anon I bethought me of men 
that can reason and talk with two tongues, and 
with two persons at once, sing like birds, 
courteous of behaviour, of body strong, and in 
joints so nimble withal, that their bones seemed 
as lythie and pliant as sinews. They dwell in a 
happy island (as the book terms it,) four months 



KEN1LWORTH. 27 

sailing southward beyond Ethiopia. Nay, Master 
Martin, I tell you no jest ; for both Diodorus 
Siculus, an ancient Greek historiographer, in his 
third book of the acts of the old Egyptians; 
and also from him Cmirad Gesnerus, (a great 
and learned man, and a very diligent writer in 
all good arguments of our time, but deceased ;) 
in the first chapter of his Mithridates, report- 
eth the same. As for this fellow, I cannot tell 
what to make of him, save that I may guess 
his back be metalled like a lamprey, that has no 
bone, but a line like a lute-string. Well, Sir, 
let him pass and his feats, and this day's pastime 
withal, for here is as much as I can remember 
me for Thursday's entertainment. 

Friday and Saturday there were no open 
shows abroad, because the weather inclined to 
some moisture and wind, that very seasonably 
tempered the drought and the heat, caused by 
the continuance of fair weather and sunshine all 
the while since her Majesty's thither coming. 

On Sunday, opportunely, the weather broke 
up again ; and after divine service in the parish 



28 KENIL WORTH. 

church for the sabbath-day, and a fruitful 
sermon there in the forenoon : At afternoon, in 
worship of this Kenil worth Castle, and of God 
and Saint Kenelm, whose day, forsooth, by 
the Calendar this was, a solemn bridal of a 
proper couple was appointed : Set in order in 
the tilt-yard, to come and make their show 
before the Castle in the great court, where was 
pight a comely Quintain for feats at arms, which 
when they had done, to march out at the north- 
gate of the Castle homeward again into the town. 
And thus were they marshalled. First, all the 
lusty lads and bold bachelors of the parish, 
suitably habited every wight, with his blue 
buckram bride-lace upon a branch of green 
broom (because rosemary is scant there) tied 
on his left arm, for on that side lies the heart ; 
and his alder pole for a spear in his right hand, 
in martial order ranged on afore, two and 
two in a rank : Some with a hat, some in a 
cap, some a coat, some a jerkin, some for 
lightness in doublet and hose, clean truss'd 
with points afore ; Some boots and no spurs, 
this spurs and no boots, and he again nei- 



KENILWORTH. 29 

ther one nor other : One had a saddle, ano- 
ther a pad or a pannel fastened with a cord, 
for girt lis were geazon : And these, to the num- 
ber of sixteen wights, riding men and well beseen : 
But the bridegroom foremost in his father's tawny 
worsted jacket, (for his friends were fain that 
he should be a bride-groom before the Queen) a 
fair straw hat with a capital crown, steeple-wise on 
his head ; a pair of harvest gloves on his hands, 
as a sign of good husbandry; a pen and ink- 
horn at his back, for he would be known to be 
bookish : lame of a leg that in his youth was 
broken at foot-ball ; well beloved of his mo- 
ther, who lent him a new muffler for a napkin, 
that was tied to his girdle for losing it. It 
was no small sport to mark this minion in his 
full appointment, that, through good tuition, 
became as formal in his action as had he 
been a bride-groom indeed ; with this special 
grace by the way, that ever as he would 
have framed to himself the better countenance, 
with the worst face he looked. 

Well, Sir, after these horsemen, a lively 
momce-dance according to the ancient man- 



30 KEXILWGRTH. 

ner: six dancers, maitl-marian, and the fool. 
Then three pretty pucelles, as bright as a breast 
of bacon, of thirty years old a-piece; that carried 
three special spice-cakes of a bushel of wheat 
(they had by measure, out of my Lord's bake- 
house) before the bride, Cicely, with set coun- 
tenance and lips so demurely simpering, as it 
had been a mare cropping of a thistle. After 
these, a lovely loober-worts, freckle-faced, red- 
headed, clean trussed in his doublet and his hose, 
taken up now indeed by commission, for that he 
was loath to come forward, for reverence belike of 
his new cut canvas doublet ; and would by his 
good will have been but a gazer, but found to 
be a meet actor for his office ; that was to bear 
the bride-cup, formed of a sweet sucket barrel, a 
fair turn'd foot set to it, all seemly besilvered and 
parcell gilt adorned with a beautiful branch cf 
broom, gaily begilded for rosemary : from 
which two broad bride-laces of red and yellow 
buckram begilded, and gallantly streaming by 
such wind as there was, for he carried it 
aloft : this gentle cup-bearer had his freck- 
led physiognomy somewhat unhappily infested, 



KENILWORTH. 31 

as he went, by the busy flies, that flocked about 
the bride-cup, for the sweetness of the sucket 
that it savoured of; but he, like a tall fellow, 
withstood their malice stoutly — see what man- 
hood may do — beat them away, killed them by 
scores, stood to his charge, and marched on in 
good order. 

Then followed the worshipful bride, led, after 
the country manner, between two ancient parish- 
ioners, honest townsmen. But a stale stallion 
and a well spread (hot as the weather was,) God 
wot, and ill-smelling was she: thirty years 
old,* of colour brown-bay, not very beautiful in- 
deed, but ugly, foul, and ill-favored ; yet mar- 
velous fond of the office, because she heard 
say she should dance before the Queen, in which 
feat she thought she would foot it as finely as 
the best : Well, after this bride there came, by 
two and two, a dozen damsels for bride-maids, 
that for favour, attire, for fashion and clean- 
liness, were as meet for such a bride as a tureen 



* The other early copy reads " thirty-five years old. 



32 KENILWORTH. 

ladle for a porridge-pot : More, but for fear of 
carrying all clean, had been appointed, but 
these few were enough. 

As the company in this order were come into 
the court, marvellous were the martial acts that 
were done there that day. The bride-groom, for 
pre-eminence, had the first course at the Quin- 
tain, and broke his spear with true hardiment ;*but 
his mare in her manege did a little so titubate, 
that much ado had his manhood to sit in his 
saddle, and escape the foil of a fall; With 
the help of his hand, yet he recovered himself, 
and lost not his stirrups (for he had none to his 
saddle,) had no hurt as it happened, but only 
that his girth burst, and lost his pen and ink- 
horn which he was ready to weep for : but his 
handkercher, as good hap was, found he safe at 
his girdle : that cheered him somewhat, and had 
good regard it should not be soiled. For though 
heat and cold had upon sundry occasions made him 
some times to sweat, and sometimes rheumatic, yet 
durst he be bolder to blow his nose and wipe his 
face with the flappet of his father's jacket, than 
with his mother's muffler : 'tis a goodly matter, 



KENILWORTH. 33 

when youth are mannerly brought up, in fatherly 
love and motherly awe. 

Now, Sir, after the bride-groom had made 
his course, ran the rest of the band a while 
in some order; but soon after, tag and rag, 
cut and long tail: where the specialty of 
the sport was, to see how some for their 
slackness had a good bob with the bag; and 
some for their haste, too, would topple down- 
right, and come down tumbling to the post: 
Some striving so much at the first setting 
out, that it seemed a question between the man 
and the beast, whether the course should be 
made on horseback or on foot: and put forth 
with the spurs, then would run his race by as 
among the thickest of the throng, that down 
came they together, hand over head : Another, 
while he directed his course to the quintain, 
his jument would carry him to a mare among 
the people; so his horse was as amorous, as 
himself adventurous: Another, too, would run 
and miss the quintain with his staff, and hit 
the board with his head. 

Many such frolicsome games were there 

D 



34 KENILWOItTH. 

among these riders; who, by and by after- 
wards, upon a greater courage, left their quin- 
taining, and ran at one another. There to see 
the stern countenances, the grim looks, the 
courageous attempts, the desperate adventures, 
the dangerous curvets, the fierce encounters, 
whereby the buff at the man, and the counter- 
buff at the horse, that both sometimes came 
topling to the ground : By my troth, Master 
Martin, 'twas a lively pastime ; I believe it 
would have moved a man to a right merry 
mood, though it had been told him that his 
wife lay dying. 

And hereto followed as good a sport, methought, 
presented in an historical cue, by certain good- 
hearted men of Coventry, my Lord's neighbours 
there: who understanding among them the thing 
that could not be hidden from any : how careful 
and studious his Honor was, that by all pleasant 
recreations her Highness might best find herself 
welcome, and be made gladsome and merry, 
(the ground-work indeed and foundation of his 
Lordship's mirth, and gladness of us all,) made 
petition that they might renew now their old storial 



KENILWOItTH. 35 

show : of argument how the Danes whilom here 
in a troublous season were for quietness borne 
withal and suffered in peace, that anon, by 
outrage and unsupportable insolency, abusing 
both Ethelred the King, then, and all estates 
every where beside ; at the grievous complaint 
and counsel of Huna, the King's Chieftain 
in wars, on Saint Brice's night, Anno Dom. 
1012, (as the book says, that falleth yearly 
on the thirteenth of November) were all dis- 
patched and the Realm rid. And for because 
that the matter mentioneth how valiantly our 
English women, for love of their country, be- 
haved themselves, expressed in action and 
rhymes after their manner, they thought it might 
move some mirth to her Majesty the rather. 
The thing, said they, is grounded in story, and 
for pastime wont to be played in our City yearly : 
without ill example of manners, papistry, or any 
superstition : and else did so occupy the heads 
of a number, that likely enough w r ould have 
had worse meditations: had an ancient begin- 
ning and a long continuance 'till now of late laid 
down, they knew no cause why, unless it was by 
d2 



36 KENILWORTH. 

the zeal of certain of their preachers ; men very 
commendable for their behaviour and learning, 
and sweet in their sermons, but somewhat too 
sour in preaching away their pastime : they 
wished therefore, that as they should continue 
their good doctrine in pulpit, so, for matters of 
policy and governance of the City, they would 
permit them to the Mayor and the Magistrates : 
and said, by my faith, Master Martin, they 
would make their humble petition unto her 
Highness, that they might have their plays up 
again. 

But aware, keep back, make room now, here 
they come — 

And first, Captain Cox, an odd man, I pro- 
mise you : by profession a mason, and that right 
skilful ; very cunning in fence, and hardy as 
Gawain ; for his ton-sword hangs at his table's 
end; great oversight hath he in matters of story : 
For as for King Arthur s Boole ; Huon qfBour- 
deaux ; The Four Sons of Aymon ; Bevis of 
Hampton ; The Squire of Low Degree ; The 
Knight of Courtesy, and the Lady Fagnell ; 
Frederick of Geneva ,• Sir Eglamour ; Sir Try a- 



KEN1LW0HTH. 37 

mour ; Sir Lamwell ; Sir Isenbras ; Sir Ga- 
wain ; Oliver of the Castle ; Lucrece and Eury- 
alus ; VirgiFs Life; The Castle of Ladies ; The 
Widow Edyth ; The King and the Tanner ; 
Friar Rush ; Howleglas ; Gargantua ; Robin 
Hood ; Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and 
William of Cloudesley ; The Churl and the 
Bird ; The Seven Wise Masters ; The Wife lapt 
in a MoreTs-skin ; The Sack-fall of News ; 
The Serjeant that became a Friar ; Scogan ; 
Colin Clout ; The Friar and the Boy ; Elynour 
Rumming ; and The Nutbrown Maid ; with 
many more than I rehearse here — I believe he 
hath them all at his fingers ends. 

Then in philosophy, both moral and natural, 
I think he be as naturally overseen; beside 
poetry and astronomy, and other hid sciences, 
as I may guess by the omberty of his books ; 
whereof part, as I remember, The Shepherds Ka- 
lendar ; The Ship of Fools ; DanieVs Dreams ; 
The Book of Fortune ; Sians Puer ad Mensam ; 
The Highway to the Spittle-house; Julian of 
Brentford's Testament ; The Castle of Love ; 
The Budget of Demands ; The Hundred Merry 



38 KENILWORTH. 

Tales ; The Book of Riddles ; The Seven Sor- 
rows of Women ; The Proud Wives Pater-Nos- 
ter ; The Chapman of a Pennyworth of Wit. 
Besides his ancient plays, Youth and Charity ; 
Hickskorner ; Nugizee ; Impatient Poverty ; 
and herewith Doctor Boord's Breviary of Health. 
What should I rehearse here ; what a bunch of 
ballads and songs, all ancient : as Broom broom 
on Hill ; So woe is me begone, trolly lo ; Over 
a Whinny Meg; Hey ding a ding; Bonny lass 
upon a green ; My bonny one gave me a beck ; 
By a bank as I lay : and a hundred more he 
hath fair wrapt up in parchment, and bound 
with a whipcord. And as for Almanacs of 
antiquity, (a point for Ephemerides) I ween he 
can show from Jasper Laet of Antwerp unto Nos- 
tradamus of France, and thence unto our John 
Securiz of Salisbury. To stay ye no longer 
herein, 1 dare say he hath as fair a library of 
these sciences, and as many goodly monuments 
both in prose and poetry, and at afternoons can 
talk as much without book, as any inn-holder 
between Brentford and Bagshot, what degree 
soever he be. 



KENILWORTH. 39 

Beside this, in the field a good marshal at 
musters; of very great credit and trust in the 
town here; for he has been chosen ale-conner 
many a year, when his betters have stood by ; 
and hath ever acquitted himself with such esti- 
mation, as to taste of a cup of Nippitate, his 
judgement will be taken above the best in the 
parish, be his nose ne'er so red. 

Captain Cox came 'marching on valiantly 
before, clean trussed and gartered above the knee, 
all fresh in a velvet cap ( Master Golding lent it 
him,) flourishing with his ton-sword ; and another 
fence-master with him : Thus in the forward 
making room for the rest. After them, proudly 
pricked on foremost, the Danish lance-knights on 
horseback, and then the English : Each with their 
alder pole martially in their hand. Even at the 
first entry, the meeting waxed somewhat warm ; 
that by and by, kindled with courage on 
both sides, grew from a hot skirmish unto a 
blazing battle : first by spear and shield, outra- 
geous in their races as rams at their rut ; with 
furious encounters, that together they tumbled to 
the dust, sometimes horse and man, and after 



40 KENILWORTH. 

fall to it with sword and target, good bangs 
on both sides. The fight so ceasing, but the 
battle not so ended : then followed the footmen ; 
both the hosts, one after the other : — first 
marching in ranks ; then warlike turning ; then 
from ranks into squadrons ; then into triangles ; 
from that into rings, and so winding out again. 
A valiant Captain of great prowess, as fierce as a 
fox assaulting a goose, was so hardy to give the 
first stroke : then got they so grisly together, that 
great was the activity that day to be seen there on 
both sides : the one very eager for purchase of 
prey, the other utterly stout for redemption of 
liberty : thus, quarrel enflamed the fury on both 
sides : twice the Danes had the better, but at 
the last conflict, beaten down, overcome, and 
many led captive for triumph by our English 
women. 

This was the effect of this show ; that as it 
was handled, made much matter of good pastime, 
brought all, indeed, into the great court, even 
under her Highness\s window, to have seen : 
but as unhappy it was for the bride, that came 
thither too soon, ( and yet it was four 



KENIL WORTH. 41 

o'clock,) for her Highness beholding in the cham- 
ber delectable dancing indeed, and therewith the 
great throng and unruliness of the people, was 
cause that this solemnity of bridal and dancing 
had not the full muster that was hoped for. 
Her Highness also saw but little of the Coven- 
try play, and commanded it therefore on the 
Tuesday following to have it full out : as accord- 
ingly it was presented; whereat her Majesty 
laughed well : They were the merrier, and so 
much the more, because her Highness had given 
them two bucks and five marks in money, to make 
merry together : They prayed for her Majesty, 
long happily to reign, and oft to come thither, 
that oft they might see her : And what re- 
joicing upon their ample reward, and what tri- 
umphing upon the good acceptance, they vaunt- 
ed their play was never so dignified, nor ever any 
players before so beatified. 

Thus, tho' the day took an end, yet slipped 
not the night all sleeping away : for as neither 
office nor obsequy ceased at any time to the full, 
to perform the plot his Honor had appointed, 
so after supper was there a play of a very good 



42 KEN1LW0RTH. 

theme presented : but so set forth, by the actors 
well handling, that pleasure and mirth made it 
seem very short, tho 1 it lasted two good hours 
and more. But stay, Master Martin, all is not 
done yet. 

After the play, out of hand followed a most 
delicious and (if I may so term it) an ambrosial 
banquet : whereof, whether I might more muse 
at the daintiness, shapes, and the cost ; or else, at 
the variety and number of the dishes (that were 
three hundred), for my part, I could little tell 
then; and now less, I assure you. Her 
Majesty eat smally or nothing; which under- 
stood, the courses were not so orderly served and 
sizely set down, but were, by and by, as disor- 
derly wasted and coarsely consumed; more 
courtly, methought, than courteously : But that 
was no part of the matter : it might please and 
be liked, and do that it came for, then was all 
well enough. 

Unto this banquet there was appointed a 
masque : for riches of array of an incredible 
cost : but the time being so far spent, and very 
late in the night now, was cause that it came not 



KENILWORTII. 43 

forth to the show : And thus for Sunday's sea- 
son, having staid you the longer, according to the 
matter, here make I an end : Ye may breathe ye 
awhile. 

Monday the eighteenth of this July, the 
weather being hot, her Highness kept the Castle 
for coolness, "till about five o'clock, her Majesty 
in the chase hunted the hart (as afore) of force : 
that whether were it by the cunning of the hunts- 
men, or by the natural desire of the deer, or else 
by both ; anon he got him to soil again, which 
raised the accustomed delight : a pastime in- 
deed so entirely pleasant, as whereof at times 
who may have the full and free fruition, can 
find no more satiety (I ween) for the recrea- 
tion, than of their good viands at times for their 
sustenance. 

Well, the game was gotten : and her High- 
ness returning, came there upon a swim- 
ming mermaid, (that from top to tail was 
eighteen feet long,) Triton, Neptune's blaster : 
who with his trumpet formed of a wrinkled 
welk, as her Majesty was in sight, gave sound 
very shrill and sonorous, in sign he had an em- 



44 KENILWOKTII. 

bassy to pronounce. Anon her Highness was 
coming upon the bridge, whereunto he made his 

fish to swim the swifter ; he then declared 

" How the supreme salsipotent monarch Nep- 
" tune, the great God of the swelling seas, Prince 
" of profundities, and Sovereign Signor of all 
66 lakes, fresh waters, rivers, creeks, and gulphs; 
" understanding how a cruel Knight, one Sir 
" Bruce sans pitie, a mortal enemy unto ladies 
" of estate, had long lain about the banks of this 
" pool, in wait with his bands here, to distress 
" the Lady qftlie Lake, whereby she had been 
" restrained not only from having any use of 
" her ancient liberty and territories in these 
" parts ; but also of making repair and giving 
" attendance unto you, Noble Queen, (quo' he) 
" as she would ; she promised, and also should; 
" doth therefore signify, and hereto, of you, as of 
" her good liege and dear friend, make this re- 
" quest, that you will deign but to shew your per- 
" son toward this pool ; whereby your only pre- 
" sence shall be matter sufficient of abandoning 
" this uncourteous Knight, and putting all his 



KENILWORTH. 45 

" bands to flight, and also deliver the Lady out 
u of this thraldom. 11 

Moving herewith from the bridge, and fleeting 
more into the pool, charged hem Neptune's name 
JEolns with all his winds, the waters with his 
springs, his fish and fowl, and all his clients in 
the same, that they ne be so hardy in any force 
to stir, but keep them calm and quiet while 
this Queen be present. At which petition her 
Highness staying, it appeared strait how Sir 
Bruce became unseen, his bands scaled, and the 
Lady, by and by, with her two Nymphs floating 
upon her moveable Islands, Triton, on his mer- 
maid skimming by, approached towards her 
Highness on the bridge, — as well to declare 
that her Majesty's presence had so graciously 
thus wrought her deliverance, as also to excuse 
her not coming to court as she promised, and 
chiefly to present her Majesty, as a token of 
her duty and good heart, for her Highness 1 re- 
creation, with this gift : which was, Arion, that 
excellent and famous musician ; in tire and 
appointment strange, well seeming to his per- 



46 KENILWORTH. 

son, riding aloft upon his old friend the dolphin, 
that from head to tail was four and twenty feet 
long, and swam hard by these Islands. Here- 
with, Avion, for these great benefits, after a few 
well-couched words unto her Majesty of thanks^ 
giving, in supplement of the same ; began a de^ 
lectable ditty of a song well apted to a melodious 
noise; compounded of six several instruments, 
all covert, casting sound from the dolphin's 
belly within: Avion, the seventh, sitting thus 
singing (as I say) without. 

Now, Sir, the ditty in metre so aptly endited 
to the matter, and after by voice deliciously deli- 
vered. The song, by a skilful artist into his parts 
so sweetly sorted; each part in his instrument 
so clean and sharply touched ; every instrument 
again in his kind so excellently tunable ; and 
this in the evening of the day, resounding from 
the calm waters, where the presence of her 
Majesty, and longing to listen, had utterly 
damped all noise and din ; the whole harmony 
conveyed in time, tune, and temper thus incom- 
parably melodious ; with what pleasure, (Master 
Martin), with what sharpness of conceit, with 



KENILWORTH. 47 

what lively delight, this might pierce into the 
hearer's hearts, I pray ye imagine yourself, as 
ye may ; for, so God judge me, by all the wit 
and cunning I have, I cannot express, T promise 
you. " Mais j'ai bien vu cela, Monsieur, que fort 
" grande est la pouvoir qu'avoit la tres noble 
" science de Musique sur Fesprit humain." Per- 
ceive ye me? I have told you a great matter 
now: As for me, surely I was lulled in such 
liking, and so loath to leave off, that much ado 
a good while after had I, to find me where I 
was. And take ye this by the way, that for the 
small skill in music that God hath sent me (you 
know it is somewhat), I'll set the more by 
myself while my name is Laneham ; and, grace 
of God, music is a noble art ! 

But stay a while, see a short wit : by troth 
I had almost forgot. This day was a day of 
grace beside, wherein were advanced five gentle- 
men of worship unto the degree of Knighthood ; 
Sir Thomas Cecil; son and heir unto the right 
honourable the Lord Treasurer, Sir Henry Cob- 
ham, brother unto the Lord Cobham ; Sir Tho- 
mas Stanhope ; Sir Arthur Basset ; and Sir 



48 KENIL WORTH. 

Thomas Tresham. And also by her Highness" 
accustomed mercy and charity, nine were cured 
of the painful and dangerous disease called the 
King's Evil ; for that Kings and Queens of this 
Realm, without other medicine, save only by 
handling and prayers, do cure it : Bear with 
me, though perchance I place not those gentle- 
men in my recital here, after their estates ; for 
I am neither a good herald of arms, nor yet 
know how they are set in the subsidy books : 
men of great worship I understand they are all. 

Tuesday, according to commandment, came 
our Coventry men. What their matter was, of 
her Highness" mirth and good acceptance, and 
reward unto them, and of their rejoicing thereat, 
I have informed you before, and so say the 
less now. 

Wednesday, in the forenoon, preparation was 
in hand for her Majesty to have supped in 
Wedgenall, three miles west from the Castle, a 
goodly Park of the Queen's Majesty.* For 



* The Duchess of Portland's copy reads " a goodly 
park of the right honourable my very good Lord the 



KE NIL WORTH. 49 

that cause a fair pavilion, and other provision 
was accordingly thither sent and prepared : but 
by means of the weather not so clearly disposed, 
the matter was countermanded again. Had 
her Highness happened this day to have come 
abroad, there was made ready a device of God- 
desses and Nymphs, which, as well for the inge- 
nious argument, as for the well handling of it in 
rhyme and enditing, would undoubtedly have 
gained great liking, and moved no less delight. 
Of the particularities whereof, however, I cease 
to entreat, lest like the bungling carpenter, by 
mis-sorting the pieces, I mar a good frame in the 
bad setting up ; or by my bad tempering before- 
hand, blemish the beauty, when it should be 
reared up indeed. This day also was there such 
earnest talk and appointment of removing, that 
I gave over my noting, and hearkened after my 
horse. 

Marry, Sir, I must tell you : As all endeavour 

Earl of Warwick." It still belongs to that noble family, 
and is now called Wedgnock Park. — Nichols's Progresses, 
1788, Vol. 1. 

E 



50 KENILWOHTH. 

was to move mirth and pastime (as I told you), 
even so, a ridiculous device of an ancient min- 
strel and his song, was prepared to have been 
proffered, if meet time and place had been found 
for it. Once in a worshipful company, where I 
chanced to be v full appointed, he recounted his 
matter in sort as it should have been uttered. 
What I noted, here thus, I tell you. — 

A person very meet seemed he for the pur- 
pose, of forty-five years old, appareled partly as 
he would himself. His cap of his head, seemly 
rounded tonsor-wise ; fair combed, that with a 
sponge daintily dipped in a little capon's grease 
was finely smoothed, to make it shine like a 
mallard's wing. His beard smugly shaven ; and 
yet his shirt after the new trick, with ruffs fair 
starched, sleeked and glistering like a pair of 
new shoes; marshaled in good order with a 
setting-stick, and stout that every ruff stood 
up like a wafer. A side gown of Kendal green, 
after the freshness of the year now ; gathered at 
the neck with a narrow gorget, fastened afore 
with a white clasp, and a keeper, close up to the 
chin ; but easily for heat to undo when he list, 



KENILWORTH. 51 

seemly begirt in a red Cadiz girdle ; from that 
a pair of capped Sheffield knives hanging to 
a side : Out of his bosom drawn forth a lap- 
pet of his napkin, edged with blue lace, and 
marked with a truelove [knot], a heart, and a D. 
for Damian, for he was but a batchelor yet. 

His gown had side [i. e. long] sleeves down 
to mid-leg, slit from the shoulder to the hand, 
and lined with white cotton. His doublet-sleeves 
of black worsted ; upon them a pair of poignets 
[i.e. wristbands] of tawny camblet, laced along the 
wrist with blue threaden points ; a welt toward 
the hand of fustian-a-napes : a pair of red 
nether-stocks ; a pair of pumps on his feet, 
with a cross cut at the toes for corns; not new 
indeed, yet cleanly blacked with soot, and shin- 
ing as a shoe-ing horn. About his neck, a red 
ribband suitable to his girdle. His harp in good 
grace dependent before him ; his wrest tied to a 
green lace and hanging by. Under the gorget 
of his gown, a fair flaggon chain of pewter 
(for silver), as a Squire Minstrel of Middlesex; 
that travelled the country this summer sea- 
son unto fairs, and worshipful men's houses. 

E 2 



52 KENIL WORTH. 

From his chain hung an escutcheon, with metal 
and colour, resplendent upon his breast, of the an- 
cient arms of Islington : Upon a question whereof, 
he, as one that was well schooled, and conned his 
lesson perfect without book to answer at full, if 
question were asked him, declared : "How the 
" worshipful village of Islington in Middlesex, 
" well known to be one of the most ancient and 
" best towns in England next London at this 
" day, for the faithful friendship of long time 
" shown, as well at Cook's feast in Aldersgate- 
" street yearly upon Holy-rood day, as also at 
" all solemn bridals in the city of London all 
" the year after ; in well serving them of fur- 
" mety for porridge, not oversodden till it be 
u too weak: of milk for their flawnes, not 
" pild nor chalked ; of cream for their custards, 
" not frothed nor thickened with flour ; and of 
" butter for their pasties and pie-paste, not made 
" of well curds, nor gathered of whey in sum- 
" mer, nor mingled in winter with salt-butter 
'* watered or washed ; did obtain long ago, these 
" worshipful arms in colour and form as you see ; 
" which are — The arms : a field Argent, as the 



KENILWORTH. 53 

c< field and ground indeed wherein the milk-wives 
" of this worthy town, and every man else in his 
" faculty doth trade for his living. On a fess 
" tenne, three plates between three milk-tan- 
" kards proper. The three milk-tankards, as 
" the proper vessels wherein the substance and 
" matter of their trade is to and fro transported. 
" The fess tenne, which is a colour betokening 
" doubt and suspicion ; so as suspicion and good 
" heed-taking, as well to their markets and ser- 
" vants, as to their customers that they trust 
" not too far, may bring unto them plates, that 
" is coined silver ; three, that is sufficient and 
" plenty ; for so that number in armory may 
" well signify. 

" For crest, upon a wad of oat-straw for a 
" wreath, a bowl of furmety. Wheat (as you 
" know) is the most precious gift of Ceres ; and 
" in the midst of it, sticking, a dozen of horn 
" spoons in a bunch, as the instrument meetest 
u to eat furmety porridge withal : a dozen, as a 
" number complete for full cheer or a banquet ; 
" and of horn, as of a substance more estimable 
" than is made for a great deal ; being neither 



54 KENJLWORTtf. 

" so churlish in weight, as metal ; nor so fro- 
" ward and brittle to manure, as stone ; nor yet 
" so soily in use, nor rough to the lips, as wood ; 
" but light, pliant, and smooth ; that with a 
" little licking, will always be kept as clean as 
" a die. With your patience, Gentlemen," 
(quoth the Minstrel) " be it said ; were it not 
" indeed that horns be so plenty, hornware, 1 
" believe, would be more set by than it is; and 
" yet there are in our parts, those that will not 
" stick to avow, that many an honest man, both 
" in city and country, hath had his house by 
" horning well upholden, and a daily friend 
"• also at need : And this with your favour may 
" I further affirm ; a very ingenious person was 
" he, that for dignity of the stuff, could thus by 
" spooning devise to advance the horn so near 
" to the head. With great congruity also were 
" these horn-spoons put to the wheat ; as a 
"• token and portion of Cornucopias, the horn of 
" Achelous; which the Maiades did fill with all 
" good fruits, corn, and grain ; and afterwards 
" did consecrate unto abundance and plenty. 
" This scutcheon with beasts, very aptly 



KENIL WORTH. 5,5 

" agreeing both to the arms and to the trade of 
" the bearers ; gloriously supported. Between 
" a grey mare, (a beast meetest for carrying of 
" milk-tankards) her pannel on her back, as al- 
" ways ready for service at every feast and 
" brid-ale at need ; her tail displayed at most 
" ease; and her filly foal, with a fallow and 
" flaxen mane after the sire. 

" In the scroll undergraven (quoth he) is 
" there a proper word, an hemistich, well squar- 
" ing with all the rest, taken out of Salerne's 
" chapter of things that most nourish man's 
" body : Lac, Caseus infans. That is : ' good 
" milk, and young cheese. 1 And thus much, 
" Gentlemen, an please you (quoth he) for the 
" arms of our worshipful town :" And there- 
withal made a mannerly leg, and so held his 
peace. 

As the company paused, and the minstrel 
seemed to gape after praise for his beau parle ; 
and because he had rendered his lesson so well, 
says a good fellow of the company, " I am sorry 
" to see how much the poor Minstrel mistakes 
" the matter ; for indeed the arms are thus : — * 



56 KENILWORTH. 

" Three milk-tankards proper, in a field of 
" clouted cream, three green cheeses upon a 
" shelf of cake-bread. The furmety bowl and 
" horn-spoons ; cause their profit conies all by 
" horned beasts. Supported by a mare with a 
" galled back, and therefore still covered with 
" a pannel, fisking with her tail for flies, 
"■ and her filly foal neighing after the dam for 
" suck. The words Lac, Caseus iiifans, that 
" is, a fresh cheese and cream, the common cry 
" that these milk- wives make in London streets 
" yearly betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide: and 
u this is the very matter, I know it well enough :*" 
and so ended his tale and sat him down again. 

Hereat every man laughed much, save the 
Minstrel; that though the fool was made privy 
all was but for sport, yet to see himself thus 
crossed with a contrary cue that he looked not 
for, would strait have given over all, and waxed 
very wayward, eager, and sour: howbeit at last, 
by some entreaty and many fair words, with 
sack and sugar, we sweetened him again ; and 
afterward he became as merry as a pye. Ap- 
pearing then afresh, in his full formality, with a 



KE NIL WORTH. 57 

lovely look ; after three lowly courtesies, cleared 
his voice with a hem and reach, and spat out 
withal ; wiped his lips with the hollow of his 
hand, for filing his napkin ; tempered a string 
or two with his wrest, and after a little warb- 
ling on his harp for a prelude, came forth with 
a\ solemn song, warranted for story out of King 
Arthur's acts, the 1st book and 26th chapter, 
whereof I got a copy ; and that is this, viz. 

THE MINSTREL'S SONNET. 

So it befell upon a Pentecost day, 

When King Arthur at Camelot kept court royal, 

With his comely Queen, dame Guenever the gay, 

And many bold Barons sitting in hall ; 

Ladies apparelled in purple and pall, 

When Heralds in hukes berried full by, 

Largess, Largess, Chevaliers tres hardy! 

A doughty dwarf unto the uppermost deas 
Right pertly 'gan prick, and kneeling on knee, 
With steven full stout amidst all the press, 
Said, Hail, Sir King, God thee save, and see 
King Ryence of North-Wales greeteth well thee, 



58 KENILWORTH. 

And bids that thy beard anon thou him send, 
Or else from thy jaws he will it off rend. 

For his robe of state, a rich scarlet mantle, 
With eleven kings' beards bordered about, 
He hatli made late, and yet in a cantle 
Is left a place the twelfth to make out, 
Where thine must stand, be thou never so stout ; 
This must be done, I tell thee no fable, 
Maugre the pow'r of all thy Round Table. 

When this mortal message from his mouth was 

past, 
Great was the bruit in hall and in bow'r ; 
The King fumed, the Queen shrieked, Ladies were 

aghast, 
Princes puff'd, Barons blustered, Lords began to 

lour, 
Knights stamped, 'Squires startled as steeds in a 

stour, 
Yeomen and Pages yell'd out in the hall, 
When herewith came in Sir Kay, Seneschal. 

" Silence, my sufferaunce, "quoth the courteousKnight, 
And in that stound the charm became still ; 



KENILWORTH. 59 

The Dwarf's dinner full dearly was (light, 
For wine and wassail he had at his will ; 
And when he had eaten and fed his fill, 
One hundred pieces of coined gold 
Were given the Dwarf for his message bold. 

" Say to Sir Ryence, thou Dwarf," quoth the King, 
" That for this proud message I him defy, 
And shortly with basons and pans will him ring 
Out of North Wales ; whereas he and I 
With swords, and no razors, shall utterly try 
Which of us both is the better barber :" 
And therewith he shook his sword Excalibcr ! 

At this the Minstrel made a pause and a 
courtesy for primus passus. More of the song 
there is, but I got it not. As for the matter, 
had it come to the shew, I think the fellow 
would have handled it well enough. 

Her Highness tarried at Kenil worth till the 
Wednesday after, being the 27th of this July, 
and the nineteenth inclusive of her Majesty'^ 
coming thither ; for which seven days, perceiv- 
ing my notes so slenderly answering, I took it 
less blame to cease, and thereof to write you 



CO KENILW0RT1I. 

nothing at all, than in such matters to write 
nothing likely ; and so much the rather, (as I 
have well bethought me) that if I did but ru- 
minate the days I have spoken of, I shall bring 
out yet somewhat more meet for your appetite, 
(though a dainty tooth have ye) which I believe 
your tender stomach will brook well enough. 

Whereof part is, first, how according to her 
Highness' name Elizabeth, which I hear say, 
out of the Hebrew signifieth, among other, the 
seventh of my God; divers things here did so 
justly in number square with the same. As 
first, her Highness hither coming in this seventh 
month ; then presented with the seven pre- 
sents of the seven Gods ; and after, with the 
melody of the seven sorted music in the dol- 
phin, the Lake-Lady's gift. Then, too, consider 
how fully the Gods, as it seemed, had conspired 
most magnificently in abundance to bestow their 
influences and gifts upon her Court, there to make 
her Majesty merry. 

Sage Saturn himself in person (that because 
of his lame leg could not so well stir) in chair, 
therefore to take order with the grave officers of 



KEN1LW0RTH. 61 

the household, holpen indeed with the good ad- 
vice of his prudent niece Pallas, that no unruly 
body, or disquiet, disturb the noble assembly, or 
else be once so bold to enter within the Castle 
gates. Away with all rascals, captives, melan- 
cholic, wayward, froward conjurers and usurers, 
and to have labourers and under- workmen for 
the beautifying of any place, always at hand as 
they should be commanded. 

Jupiter sent personages of high honour 
and dignity ; Barons, Lords, Ladies, Judges, 
Bishops, Lawyers, and Doctors; with them, 
Virtue, Nobleness, Equity, Liberality, and Com- 
passion ; due season, and fair weather ; saving 
that, at the petition of his dear sister Ceres, he 
granted a day or two of some sweet showers for 
ripening of her corn that was so well set, and to 
get forward harvest. Herewith bestowed he such 
plenty of pleasant thunder, lightning, and thun- 
derbolts, by his halting son and fire-master 
Vulcan, still fresh and fresh framed, always so 
frequent, so intellable, and of such continuance 
in the spending (as I partly told ye) consumed, 
that surely he seems to be as of power inestim- 



62 KENILWORTH. 

able ; so, in store of munition, unwasteable ; for 
all Ovid's censure that says, 

Si quoties peccant homines sua fulmina mittat 
Jupiter, exiguo tempore inermis erit. 

If Jove should shoot his thunderbolts, as oft as men 

offend, 
Assure you his artillery would soon be at an end ! 

What a number of estates and of nobility had 
Jupiter assembled there, guess you by this, 
that of sort worshipful there were in the Court 
daily above forty, whereof the meanest of a 
thousand marks yearly revenue, and many of 
much more. This great gift beside did his 
Deity confer upon her Highness — to have fair and 
seasonable weather at her own appointment ; ac- 
cording whereunto her Majesty so had. For 
her gracious presence, therefore, with this great 
gift endowed, Lichfield, Worcester, and Mid- 
dleton, with many places more, made humble 
suit unto her Highness to come ; to such whereof 
as her Majesty could, it came, and they season 
acceptable. 



KEXILWORTH. 63 

Phoebus, beside his continual and most deli- 
cious music, (as I have told you) appointed he 
Princes to adorn her Highness"* court, Counsel- 
lors, Heralds, and sanguine Youth, pleasant 
and merry, costly garments, learned physicians, 
and no need of them. 

Juno, Gold chains, ouches, jewels of great 
price and rich attire worn in much grace and 
good beseeming, without pride or emulation of 
any. 

Mars, Captains of good conduct, men skilful 
in feats of arms, politic in stratagems, of good 
courage in good quarrels, valiant and wise- 
hardy ; abandoning pique-quarrels and ruffians : 
appointing also pursuivants, couriers, and posts, 
still feeding her Highness with news and intelli- 
gences from all parts. 

Venus, Unto the Ladies and Gentlewomen, 
beauty, good favour, comeliness, gallant attire, 
dancing with comely grace, sweet voice in 
song and pleasant talk, with express command- 
ment and charge unto her son, on her blessing, 
that he shoot not a shaft in the Court all the 
while her Highness remained at Kenilworth. 



64 KENILWORTH. 

Mercury ; Learned men in sciences ; Poets, 
Merchants, Painters, Carvers, Players, En- 
gineers, Devicers, and dexterity in handling of 
all pleasant attempts. 

Luna, Calm nights for quiet rest, and silver 
moonshine, that nightly indeed shone for most 
of her Majesty's being there. 

Blind Plutus, Bags of Money, Customers, 
Exchangers, and Bankers, with store of riches 
in plate and in coin. 

Bacchus, Full cups every where, everv hour 
of all kinds of wine. There was no dainty that 
the sea could yield, but Neptune (though his 
reign at the nearest lay well nigh a hundred 
miles off) did daily send in great plenty, sweet 
and fresh. As for fresh-water fish, the store of 
all sorts was abundant. 

And how bountiful Ceres in provision was, 
guess ye by this, that in little more than three 
days space, seventy-two tuns of ale and beer were 
piped up quite; what that might, whilst with it, 
of bread beside meat, I report me to -you: and yet 
the Master Comptroller, Master Cofferer, and 
divers Officers of the court, some honourable and 



KENILWOUTH. Q% 

sundry right worshipful were placed at Warwick, 
for more room in the Castle. But here was no 
ho ! Master Martin, in devout drinking alway ; 
that brought lack un looked for ; which being 
known to the worshipful my lord's good neigh- 
bours, came there in two day's space, from 
sundry friends, a relief of forty tuns, till a new 
supply was got again : and then to our drinking 
afresh as fast as ever we did. 

Flora, Abroad and within the house, minister- 
ed of flowers so great a quantity, of such sweet 
savour, so beautifully hued, so large and fair 
proportion, and of such strange kinds and 
shapes, that it was great pleasure to see : and so 
much the more, as there was great store of 
others that were counterfeit, and formed of 
feathers by art ; alike glorious to the show, as 
were the natural. 

Proteus, His tumbler, that could by nim- 
bleness cast himself into so many forms and 
fashions. 

Pan, His merry morrice-dance, with their 
pipe and tabor. 

F 



G6 KENILWGHTH. 

Bellona, Her Quintain Knights, and proper 
bickerings of the Coventry men. 

Polyphemus, Neptune's son and heir : (let 
him I pray, an it be but for his father's sake 
and for his good will, be allowed for a God,) 
with his bears, his bear-whelps, and ban-dogs. 

jEolus, Holding up his winds, while her 
Highness at any time took pleasure on the 
water, and staying of tempests during her 
abode here. 

Sylvanus, Besides his plentiful provision of 
fowl for dainty viands, his pleasant and sweet 
singing birds : whereof I will show you more 
anon. 

Echo, Her well endited dialogue* 

Faunus, His jolly savage. 

Genius loci, His tempering of all things 
within and without, with apt time and place to 
pleasure and delight. 

Then the three Charites : [or Graces] Aglaia, 
with her lightsome gladness; Thalia, her flourish- 
ing freshness ; Euphrosyne, her cheerfulness of 
spirit: and with these three in one assent, Concor- 
dia, with her amity and good agreement. That to 



KEKIL WORTH. 67 

bow great effect their powers were poured out 
here among us, Jet it be judged by this, that by 
a multitude thus met of three or four thousand 
every day ; and divers days more, of so sun- 
dry degrees, professions, ages, appetites, dis- 
positions and affections ; such a drift of time 
was there passed, with such amity, love, pastime, 
agreement, an'd obedience where it should ; and 
without quarrel, jarring, grudging, or (that I 
could hear) of ill words between any. A thing, 
Master Martin, very rare and strange, and yet 
no more strange than true. 

The Parca?, [or Fates] as erst I should have 
said, the first night of her Majesty's coming, they 
hearing and seeing so precious ado here at a 
place unlooked for, in an uplandish country so 
far within the realm : pressing into every stead 
where her Highness went, whereby so duddled 
with such variety of delights, did set aside their 
huswifery, and could not for their hearts tend 
their work a whit. But after they had seen 
her Majesty a-bed, got them a prying into every 
place : Old hags ! as fond of novelties as young 
girls that had never seen Court before : but 
f % 



68 KE MIL WORTH. 

neither full with gazing, nor weary with gadding; 
left off yet for that time, and at high midnight 
gat them giggling, (but not aloud) in the Presence 
Chamber: minding indeed, with their present 
diligence, to recompense their former slackness. 

So, setting themselves thus down to their work, 
" Alas ! " says Atropos, "I have lost my sheers :" 
Lachesis laughed apace and would not draw a 
thread : " And think ye, dames, that I'll hold the 
distaff, while both ye sit idle ? Why, no, by 
my mother's soul," quoth Clotho. Therewith, 
carefully lapped in fine lawn, the spindle and 
rock, that was dizened with pure purple silk, laid 
they safely up together ; that of her Majesty's 
distaff, for eighteen days, there was not a thread 
spun, I assure you. The two sisters after that 
(I heard say) began their work again, that long 
may they continue : but Atropos heard no tiding 
of her sheers, and not a man that moaned her loss. 
She is not beloved surely ; for this can I tell you, 
that whether it be for hate to the hag, or love to 
her Highness, or else for both, every man prays 
God she may never find them for that work ; and 
so pray I daily and duly with the devoutest. 



KENILWOJtTH. Q ( J 

Thus partly you perceive now, how greatly 
the Gods can do for mortals, and how 
much always they love where they like: that 
what a gentle Jove was this, thus courteously 
to contrive here such a train of Gods? Nay 
then rather, Master Martin, to come out of 
our poeticalities, and to talk on more serious 
terms, what a magnificent Lord may we justly 
account him, that could so highly cast order 
for such a Jupiter and all his Gods beside : 
that none with his influence, good property, or 
present, were wanting ; but always ready at 
hand, in such order and abundance for the 
honouring and delight of so high a Prince, our 
most gracious Queen and Sovereign. A Prince 
(I say) so singular in pre-eminence, and worthi- 
ness above all other Princes and Dignities of our 
time : though I make no comparison to years 
past, to him that in this point, either of ig- 
norance — (if any such can be), or else of ma- 
levolence, would make any doubt : sit liber Judex 
(as they say) ; let him look on the matter, and 
answer himself, he has not far to travel. 



70 KENIL WORTH. 

As for the amplitude of his Lordship's mind, 
albeit that I, poor soul, can in conceit no more 
attain unto, than judge of a gem whereof I have 
no skill : yea, though daily worn and resplendent 
in mine eye ; yet some of the virtues and pro- 
perties thereof, in quantity, or quality, so appa- 
rent as cannot be hidden, but seen of all men, 
might I be the bolder to report here unto you ; 
but as for the value, your jewellers by their 
carats let them cast, an they can. 

And first, who that considers unto the stately 
seat of Kenil worth Castle, the rare beauty of build- 
ing that his Honor hath advanced, all of the 
hard quarry-stone : every room so spacious, so 
well belighted, and so high roofed withm: so 
seemly to sight by due proportion without ; In 
day-time on every side so glittering by glass ; 
at nights, by continual brightness of candle, fire, 
and torch-light, transparent thro'' the lightsome 
windows, as it were the Egyptian Pharos relu- 
cent unto all the Alexandrian coast: or else, 
(to talk merrily with my merry friend,) thus ra- 
diant, as though Phoebus for his ease would rest 
him in the Castle, and not every night so to travel 



KENILWOllTH. 71 

down unto the Antipodes. Here, too, so fully 
furnished of rich apparel and utensils apted in all 
points to the best. 

Unto this, his Honor's exquisite appoint- 
ment of a beautiful garden, an acre or more in 
quantity, that lieth on the north there : Wherein 
hard all along by the Castle wall, is reared a 
pleasant terrace, ten feet high, and twelve feet 
broad, even under foot, and fresh of fine grass ; 
as is also the side thereof towards the garden : In 
which, by sundry equal distances, with obelisks, 
and spheres, and white bears, all of stone upon 
their curious bases, by goodly shew were set ; To 
these, two fine arbours redolent by sweet trees 
and flowers, at each end one, the garden plot 
under that, with fair alleys, green by grass, even 
voided from the borders on both sides, and some 
(for change) with sand, not light, or too soft, or 
soily by dust, but smooth and firm, pleasant to 
walk on, as a sea-shore when the water is avail- 
ed. Then, much gracified by due proportion of 
four even quarters : in the midst of each, upon a 
base of two feet square, and high, seemly bor- 
dered of itself, a square pilaster rising pyramid^** 



72 KEN 1L WORTH. 

caily fifteen feet high. Symmetrically pierced 
through from a foot beneath to two feet of the 
top : whereupon, for a capital, an orb of ten 
inches thick ; every of these, with its base, 
from the ground to the top, of one whole piece ; 
hewn out of hard porphyry, and with great art 
and heed (think me) thither conveyed and there 
erected. Where, further also, by great cast 
and cost, the sweetness of savour on all sides, 
made so respirant from the redolent plants and 
fragrant herbs and flowers, in form, colour, 
and quantity so deliciously variant ; and fruit- 
trees bedecked with apples, pears, and ripe 
cherries. 

And unto these, in the midst, against the 
terrace : a square cage, sumptuous and beautiful, 
joined hard to the north wall, (that on that side 
guards the garden, as the garden the Castle) of 
a rare form and excellency was raised : in height 
twenty feet, thirty long, and fourteen broad. 
From the ground strong and close, reared breast- 
high, whereat a framing of a fair moulding was 
couched all about : from that upward, four great 
windows, in front, and two at each end, every 



KEK1LWOIITH. 7# 

one five feet wide, as many more even above 
them, divided on all parts by a transom and 
architrave, so likewise ranging about the cage. 
Each window arched at the top, and parted from 
the other at even distances by flat fair bolteld 
columns, all in form and beauty alike, these 
supported a comely cornice couched all along 
upon the bole square. Which with a wire net, 
finely knit, of meshes six square, an inch wide (as 
it were for a flat roof) and likewise the space of 
every window with great cunning and comeliness, 
even and tight was all over-strained. Under the 
cornice again, every part beautified with great 
diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and saphires: point- 
ed, tabled, rock and round, and garnish'd with 
gold ; by skilful head and hand, and by toil and 
pencil so lively expressed, as it might be great mar- 
vel and pleasure to consider how near excellency 
of Art could approach unto perfection of Nature. 
Bear with me, good countryman, though 
things be not showed here as well as I would, or 
as well as they should. For indeed I can better 
imagine and conceive that which I see, than well 
utter, or duly declare it. Holes were there also 



74 KENILWOHTH. 

and caverns in orderly distances and fashion, 
voided into the wall, as well for heat, for coolness, 
for roost at nights and refuge in weather, as also 
for breeding when time is. More; fair, even, and 
fresh holly trees for perching and pruning, set 
within, toward each end one. 

Here, too, their diversity of meats, their fine 
several vessels for their water and sundry grains ; 
and a man skilful and diligent to look to them 
and tend them. 

But, shall I tell you, of the silver sounded lute, 
without the sweet touch of hand ; the glorious 
golden cup, without the fresh fragrant wine ; or 
the rich ring with gem, without the fair featured 
finger ; is nothing, indeed, in his proper grace and 
use: even so his Honor accounted of this mansion 
"till he had placed there tenants according. 
Had it, therefore, replenished with lively Birds, 
English, French, Spanish, Canarian, and I am 
deceived if I saw not some African. Whereby, 
whether it became more delightsome in change of 
tunes, and harmony to the ear; or else in difference 
of colours, kinds, and properties to the eye, I'll 
tell you, if I can, when I have better bethought me. 



KENILWORTB. 75 

One day, Master Martin, as the garden door 
was open, and her Highness hunting, by licence 
of my good friend Adrian, I came in at a beckon, 
but would scant out with a thrust : for sure I 
was loath so soon to depart. Well may this, 
Master Martin, be somewhat to magnitude of 
mind, but more thereof as ye shall know, more 
cause ye shall have so to think : hear out what 
I tell you, and tell me when we meet. 

In the centre, as it were, of this goodly gar- 
den, was there placed a very fair fountain, cast 
into an eight-square, reared four feet high; 
from the midst whereof, a column upright, 
in shape of two Athlants, joined together a 
back half; the one looking east, the other 
west, with their hands upholding a fair-formed 
bowl of three feet over; from whence sun- 
dry fine pipes did lively distil continual streams 
into the reservoir of the fountain, maintained 
still two feet deep by the same fresh falling 
water: wherein pleasantly playing to and fro, 
and round about, carp, tench, bream, and for 
variety, pearch and eel, fish fair-liking all, and 
large : In the top, the ragged staff ; which, with 



76 KENIL WORTH. 

the bowl, the pillar, and eight sides beneath, were 
all hewn out of rich and hard white marble. 
On one side, Neptune with his tridental fuskin 
triumphing in his throne, trailed into the deep 
by his marine horses. On another, Thetis in 
her chariot drawn by her dolphins. Then 
Triton by his fishes. Here Proteus herding his 
sea-bulls. There Doris and her daughters so- 
lacing on sea and sands. The waves surging 
with froth and foam, intermingled in place, with 
whales, whirlpools, sturgeons, tunneys, conches, 
and wealksj all engraven by exquisite device and 
skill, so as I may think this not much inferior 
unto Phoebus^ gates, which Ovid says, and per- 
adventure a pattern to this, that Vulcan himself 
did cut : whereof such was the excellency of art, 
that the work in value surmounted the stuff, 
and yet were the gates all of clean massy silver. 
Here were things, ye see, might inflame any 
mind to long after looking: but whoso was 
found so hot in desire, with the wrest of a cock 
was sure of a cooler : water spirting upward with 
such vehemency, as they should, by and by, be 
moistened from top to toe ; the he's to some 



KENILWORTH. 77 

laughing, but the she's to more sport: this 
sometime was occupied to very good pastime. 

A garden then so appointed, as wherein 
aloft upon sweet shadowed walk of terrace, in 
heat of summer, to feel the pleasant whisking 
wind above, or delectable coolness of the foun- 
tain-spring beneath ; to taste of delicious straw- 
berries, cherries, and other fruits, even from 
their stalks ; to smell such fragrancy of sweet 
odours, breathing from the plants, herbs, and 
flowers ; to hear such natural melodious music 
and tunes of birds; to have in eye for mirth 
sometime these underspringing streams; then, 
the woods, the waters (for both pool and chase 
were hard at hand in sight), the deer, the people 
(that out of the east arbour in the base Court, 
also at hand in view), the fruit-trees, the plants, 
the herbs, the flowers, the change in colours, the 
birds flittering, the fountain streaming, the fish 
swimming, all in such delectable variety, order, 
and dignity ; whereby, at one moment, in one 
place, at hand, without travel, to have so full 
fruition of so many God's blessings, by entire 
delight unto all senses (if all can take) at once : 



78 K F.N FL WORTH. 

for etymon of the word worthy to be called Pa- 
radise : and though not so goodly as Paradise, 
for want of the fair rivers, yet better a great deal 
by the lack of so unhappy a tree. Argument 
most certain of a right noble mind, that in this 
sort could have thus all contrived. 

But, Master Martin, yet one windlass must I 
fetch, to make you one more fair course, an I 
can : and cause I speak of One, let me tell you 
a little of the dignity of One-hood ; wherein al- 
ways all high Deity, all Sovereignty, Pre-emin- 
ence, Principality, and Concord, without possi- 
bility of disagreement, is contained : As, One 
God, One Saviour, One Faith, One Prince, One 
Sun, One Phoenix ; and as One of great wisdom 
saith, One heart, One way. Where One-hood 
reigns, there Quiet bears rule, and Discord flies 
apace. Three again may signify company, a 
meeting, a multitude, plurality ; so as all tales 
and numberings from two unto three, and so up- 
ward, may well be counted numbers, 'till they 
mount unto infinity, or else to confusion, which 
thing the sum of two can never admit ; nor it- 
self can well be counted a number, but rather a 



KENILWORTH. 79 

friendly conjunction of two Ones ; that, keeping 
in a sincerity of accord, may purport unto us 
charity to each other; mutual love, agreement 
and integrity of friendship without dissimula- 
tion. As is in these: The two Testaments ; the 
Two Tables of the Law ; the Two great Lights, 
Duo luminaria magna, the Sun and Moon. 
And, but mark a little, I pray, and see how of all 
things in the world, our tongues in talk do al- 
ways so readily trip upon two's, pairs, and 
couples ; sometimes as of things in equality, 
sometime of difference, sometime of contraries, 
or for comparison, but chiefly, for the most part, 
of things that between themselves do well agree, 
and are fast linked in amity : As, first, for pas- 
times, Hounds and Hawks ; Deer red and fal- 
low ; Hare and Fox ; Partridge and Pheasant ; 
Fish and Fowl ; Carp and Tench. For Wars, 
Spear and Shield ; Horse and Harness ; Sword 
and Buckler. For sustenance, Wheat and Bar- 
ley ; Pease and Beans ; Meat and Drink ; Bread 
and Meat ; Beer and Ale ; Apples and Pears. 

But lest by such dualities I draw you too 
far; let us here stay, and come nearer home. 



80 KENILWOKTH. 

See what a sort of friendly binites we ourselves 
do consist and stand upon : First, our Two feet, 
Two legs, Two knees, so upward ; and above, 
Two shoulders, Two arms, and Two hands. 
But chiefly our principal Two ; that is, body 
and soul : Then in the head, where all our 
senses meet, and almost all in Two's : Two 
Nostrils, Two ears, and Two eyes : So are 
we of friendly Two's from top to toe. Well, to 
this number of binites, take ye one more for 
an upshot, and here an end. 

Two dials nigh unto the battlements, are set 
aloft upon two of the sides of Caesar's Tower ; 
one east, the other south ; for so stand they best 
to show the hours to the town and country .* 
both fair, large, and rich, blue bice for ground, 
and gold for letters, whereby they glitter con- 
spicuous a great way off. The clock-bell, that 
is good and shrill, was commanded to silence at 
first, and indeed, sung not a note all the while 
her Highness was there; the clock stood also still 
withal. But mark now, whether were it by 
chance, by constellation of stars, or by fatal 
appointment (if fates and stars do deal with 



ME NIL WORTH. 81 

dials) thus was it indeed. The hands of both 
the tables stood firm and fast, always pointing 
at two o'clock. Which thing beholding by hap 
at first, but after seriously marking in deed, en- 
printed into me a deep sign and argument cer- 
tain: that this thing, among the rest, was for full 
significance of his Lordship's honourable, frank, 
friendly, and noble heart towards all estates: 
which, whether they come to stay and take 
cheer, or strait to return ; to see, or to be seen ; 
come they for duty to her Majesty, or love to 
his Lordship, or for both : come they early or 
late : for his Lordship's part, they come always 
all at two o'clock, e'en jump at two o'clock : that 
is to say, in good heart, good acceptance, in 
amity, and friendly welcome : who saw else that 
I saw, in right must say as I say. For so many 
things beside, Master Humphrey, were herein so 
consonant unto my construction, that this point- 
ing of the clock (to myself) I took in amity, as 
an oracle certain. And here is my windlass like 
your course, as please you. 

But now, Sir, to come to an end. For 
i eceiving of her Highness, and entertainment of 

G 



82 KENILWORTH. 

all the other estates. Since of delicates, that 
any way might serve or delight ; as of wine, 
spice, dainty viands, plate, music, ornaments of 
house, rich arras and silk (to say nothing of the 
meaner things), the mass by provision was heaped 
so huge, which the bounty in spending did after 
bewray. The conceit so deep in casting the 
plat at first : such a wisdom and cunning in 
acquiring things so rich, so rare, and in such 
abundance : by so immense and profuse a charge 
of expence, which, by so honourable service, and 
exquisite order, courtesy of officers, and huma- 
nity of all, were after so bountifully bestowed and 
spent; what may this express, what may this 
set out unto us, but only a magnific mind, a sin- 
gular wisdom, a princely purse, and an heroical 
heart ? If it were my theme, Master Martin, to 
speak of his Lordship's great honour and mag- 
nificence, though it be not in me to say suffi- 
ciently, as bad a pen-clerk as I am, yet could I 
say a great deal more. 

But being here now in magnificence, and mat- 
ters of greatness, it falls well to mind the great- 
ness of his Honor's tent, that for her Majesty's 






KENILWORTH. 83 

dining was pight at Long Ichington, the day her 
Highness came to Kenil worth Castle. A taber- 
nacle indeed for number and shift of large 
and goodly rooms, for fair and easy offices both 
inward and outward, all so likesome in order and 
eye-sight : that justly for dignity may be com- 
parable with a beautiful palace ; and for great- 
ness and quantity, with a proper town, or rather 
a citadel. But to be short, lest I keep you too 
long from the Royal Exchange now, and to 
cause you conceive much matter in fewest 
words. The iron bedstead of Og, the king of 
Basan (you know) was four yards and a half 
long, and two yards wide, whereby ye consider 
a giant of a great proportion was he : This tent 
had seven cart-load of pins pertaining to it: 
Now for the greatness, guess as you can. 

And great as it was (to marshal our matters 
of greatness together,) not forgetting a wether at 
Grafton, brought to the Court, that for body and 
wool was exceeding great; the measure I took 
not : let me show you with what great marvel 
a great child of Leicestershire, at this Long 
Ichington, by the parents was presented : great, 



84 KENILWORTH. 

I say, of limbs and proportion, of four feet and 
four inches high, and else lanuginous as a lad of 
eighteen years ; being indeed avowed to be but 
six years old, nothing more bewraying his age 
than his wit, that was, as for those years, simple 
and childish. 

As for unto his Lordship, having with such 
greatness of honourable modesty and benignity 
so passed forth, as laudem sine invidia et ami- 
cos parit. By greatness of well-doing, won with 
all sorts to be in such reverence as de quo rnentiri 
fama veretur. In sincerity of friendship so great, 
as no man more devoutly worships illud ami- 
citice sanctum et venerabile nomen. So great in 
liberality, as hath no way to heap up the mass of 
his treasure, but only by liberal giving and 
bounteous bestowing his treasure ; following (as 
it seems) that saw of Martial, that saith, 

Extra fortunam est, quicquid donatur amicis ; 
Quas dederis, solas semper habebis opes. 

Out of all hazard dost thou set that to thy friends 

thou givest : 
A surer treasure canst thou not have ever while 

thou livest. 



KENILWORTH. 85 

What may these greatnesses bode, but only as 
great honour, fame, and renown for these parts 
here away, as ever was unto these two noble 
greats, the Macedonian Alexander in Emathia 
or Greece, or to Roman Charles in Germany or 
Italy ? Which, were it in me any way to set 
out, no man of all men by God, Master Mar- 
tin, had ever more cause, and that hereby con- 
sider you< 

It pleased his Honor to bear me good will at 
first, and so to continue. To have given me 
apparel even from his back, 1 to get me allowance 
in the stable, to advance me unto this worshipful 
office so near the most honourable Council, to 
help me in my licence of beans (though indeed 
I do not so much use it, for, I thank God, I 
need not) to permit my good father to serve the 
stable. Whereby I go now in my silks, that 
else might ruffle in my cut canvas : I ride now 
on horseback, that else many times might ma- 
nege it on foot : am known to their Honors, 
and taken forth with the best, that else might be 
bidden to stand back myself. My good father a 
good relief, that he fares much the better by, 
and none of these for my desert, cither at first o 



86 KENILWOKTH. 

since, God knows. What say you, my good 
friend Humphrey, should I not for ever honour 
and extol him all the ways I can ? Yes, by 
your leave, while God lends me power to utter 
my mind. And, having as goofl cause of his 
Honor, as Virgil had of Augustus Cwsar, will I 
poet it a little with Virgil, and say, 

Namque erit Hie mihi semper Deus, illius arara 
Saepe tener nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus. 

For he shall be a God to me, *till death my life 

consumes, 
His altars will I sacrifice with incense and perfumes. 

A singular patron of humanity may he be 
well unto us toward all degrees : of honour 
toward high estates, and chiefly whereby we 
may learn in what dignity, worship, and rever- 
ence her Highness is to be esteemed, honoured, 
and received, that was never indeed more con- 
dignly done than here ; so as neither by the 
builders at first, nor by the edict of pacification 
after, was ever Kenilworth more ennobled, than 
by this his Lordship's receiving her Highness 
here now. 



KENILWORTH. 87 

But, Jesu, Jesu, whither am I drawn now ? 
But talk I of my Lord once, even thus it fares 
with me : I forget all my friends, and myself 
too. And yet you, being a mercer, a merchant, 
as I am, my countryman born, and my good 
friend withal, whereby I know you are com- 
passioned with me ; methought it my part some- 
what to impart unto you how it is here with me, 
and how I lead my life, which indeed is this : 

A mornings I rise ordinarily at seven o'clock : 
then, ready, I go into the chapel ; soon after 
eight, I get me commonly into my Lord's 
chamber, or into my Lord's presidents. There 
at the cupboard, after I have eaten the manchet 
served over night for livery, (for I dare be as 
bold, I promise you, as any of my friends the 
servants there ; and indeed I could have fresh, if 
I would tarry; but I am of wont jolly and dry 
a mornings) : I drink me up a good bowl of ale : 
when in a sweet pot it is defecated by all night's 
standing, the drink is the better, take that of 
me : and a morsel in a morning, with a sound 
draught, is very wholesome and good for the 
eyesight : Then T am as fresh all the forenoon 



88 KENILWORTH. 

after, as had I eaten a whole piece of beef. Now, 
Sir, if the Council sit, I am at hand ; wait at an 
inch, I warrant you : If any make babbling, 
" Peace, 11 say I, " wot ye where ye are P 11 If I 
take a listener, or a pryer in at the chinks or at 
the lock-hole, I am by and by in the bones of 
him : but now they keep good order, they know 
me well enough : If he be a friend, or such a 
one as 1 like. I make him sit down by me on a 
form or a chest ; let the rest walk, in God's name. 
And here doth my languages now and then 
stand me in good stead, my French, my Spanish, 
my Dutch, and my Latin: sometime among 
Ambassadors 1 men, if their masters be within 
the Council : sometime with the Ambassador 
himself, if he bid call his lacquey, or ask me 
wjiat's o'clock ; and I warrant you I answer him 
roundly, that they marvel to see such a fellow 
there : then laugh I, and say nothing. Dinner 
and supper I have twenty places to go to, and 
heartily prayed to : Sometimes I get to Matter 
Pinner ; by my faith a worshipful Gentleman, 
and as careful for his charge as any her High- 
ness hath. There find I always good store of 



KENlLWORTlf. 89 

very good viands ; we "eat, and be merry, thank 
God and the Queen. Himself in feeding very 
temperate and moderate as you shall see any ; 
and yet, by your leave, of a dish, as a cold 
pigeon or so, that hath come to him at meat 
more than he looked for, I have seen him even 
so by and by surfeit, as he hath plucked off his 
napkin, wiped his knife, and eat not a morsel 
more ; like enough to stick in his stomach 
two days after: (some hard message from the 
higher officers ; perceive ye me ?) Upon search, 
his faithful dealing and diligence had found him 
faultless. 

In afternoons and at nights, sometime am I 
with the right worshipful Sir George Howard, 
as good a Gentleman as any that lives. And 
sometime, at my good Lady Sidney's chamber, 
a Noble- woman that I am as much bound unto, 
as any poor man may be unto so gracious a 
Lady ; and sometime in some other place. But 
always among the Gentlewomen by my good will ; 
(O, you know that comes always of a gentle 
spirit) : And when I see company according, 
then can I be as lively too : Sometimes I foot it 



90 K EN I L WORTH. 

with dancing: now with my gittern, or else 
with my cittern, then at the virginals: You 
know nothing comes amiss to me : Then carol I 
up a song withal ; that by and by they come 
flocking about me like bees to honey ; And ever 
they cry, " Another, good Laneham, another P 

Shall I tell you ? when I see Mistress 

(Ah ! see a mad knave ; I had almost told all !) 
that she gives once but an eye, or an ear ; 
why then, man, am I blest ; my grace, my cou- 
rage, my cunning is doubled : She says, some- 
time, " She likes it ;" and then I like it much 
the better : it doth me good to hear how well I 
can do. And to say truth ; what with mine eye, 
as I can amorously gloit it, with my Spanish 
sospires, my French heighes, mine Italian dul- 
cets, my Dutch hoves, my double releas, my 
high reaches, my fine feiguing, my deep diapason, 
my wanton warbles, my running, my timing, 
my tuning, and my twinkling, I can gracify the 
matters as well as the proudest of them, and 
was yet never stained, I thank God: By my 
troth, countryman, it is sometimes high midnight, 
ere I can get from them. And thus have I 



KEN1LW0HTH. 91 

told you most of my trade, all the live long day : 
what will you more, God save the Queen and my 
Lord. I am well, I thank you. 

Herewith meaned I fully to bid ye farewell, 
had not this doubt come to my mind, that here 
remains a doubt in you, which I ought (me- 
thought) in any wise to clear. Which is, ye 
marvel perchance to see me so bookish. Let me 
tell you in few words: I went to school, for- 
sooth, both at Paul's and also at St. Anthony's : 
In the fifth form, passed M sop's Fables, I wis, 
read Terence vos istcec intro auferte, and began 
with my Virgil Tityre tupatulce. I conned my rules, 
could construe and parse with the best of them : 
since that, as partly you know, have I traded 
the feat of merchandize in sundry countries, and 
so got me languages ; which do so little hinder 
my Latin, as I, thank God, have much en- 
creased it. I have leisure sometimes, when I 
tend not upon the Council ; whereby, now look 
I on one book, now on another. Stories I de- 
light in: the more ancient and rare, the more 
likesome to me. If I told you, I liked William 
of Malmesbury so well, because of his diligence 



92 KENILWORTH. 

and antiquity, perchance you would construe it 
because I love malmsey so well: But i 1 faith it 
is not so: for sipt I no more sack and sugar, 
(and yet never but with company,) than I do 
malmsey, I should not blush so much adays as 
I do: you know my mind. 

Well now, thus fare ye heartily well i' faith : 
If with wishing it could have been, ye had had a 
buck or two this summer; but we shall come 
nearer shortly, and then shall we merrily meet, 
an grace d* God. In the mean time commend 
me, I beseech you, unto my good friends, almost 
most of them your neighbours: Master Alder- 
man Pullison, * a special friend of mine : And 
in any wise to my good old friend Master Smith, 

Customer, by that same token, " Set my 

horse up to the rack, and then let's have a cup 
of Sack."" He knows the token well enough, 
and will laugh, I hold you a groat. To Master 
Thorogood : and to my merry companion (a 



* Afterwards Sir Thomas Pullison, and Lord Mayor 
in 1584. 



KENILWORTH. 93 

Mercer, you know, as we be) Master Denman, 
Miofratello in Christo :. He is wont to summon 
me by the name of " Ro. La. of the County of 
Nosingham Gentleman :"" A good companion, 
i 'faith. Well, once again, fare ye heartily well. 
From the Court. At the City of Worcester, 
the twentieth of August, 1 575. 

Your Countryman, companion, and friend 
assuredly: Mercer, Merchant-adventurer, and 
Clerk of the Council chamber-door, and also 
Keeper of the same : 
El Prencipe Negro. Par me R. L. Gent. Mercer 

DE MAJESTATE REGIA 

Benigno. 
Cedant arma togas, concedat laurea linguae, 

Jactanter Cicero, at justius illud habe : 
Cedant arma togae, vigil et toga cedit honor*!, 

Omnia concedant imperioque suo. 

Deo Opt. Max. Gratia?. 



GLOSSARIAL 

AND 

EXPLANATORY NOTES. 



Page 4. — A flight-shoot bread. 
This passage may have two significations : One 
derived from the same expression which Lineham uses 
when speaking of the fire-works, in which place it is un- 
derstood to mean a flying shot, or one discharged from a 
mortar. — The other method of understanding the words 
is, supposing that a flight signified a small arrow ; in 
contradistinction to shafts, quarrels, bolts, and piles. 
The latter of these is, however, the most probable, as the 
pool itself was not more than three hundred feet in 
breadth. 

Ibid. — by the brays, &fc. 
The Park at Kenilworth was separated from the Castle 
on the south side by a part of the pool, but was, as the 
text states, connected as it were with the building; by the 
sloping banks next the water. The word Bra, Brae, or 
Bray, in the norlhern counties and Scotland is used for 
the acclivity of a hill, and the brink or bank of a river. — 
Vide Grose and Jamieson. 

Page 6. — Penda's presumption. 
In the year 6-12. Penda, King of Mercia, invaded the 
dominions of Oswald, King of Northumberland ; who 
was slain after a fierce battle at Maserfield. Burthred 
or Buthred, who is mentioned in the context, was the 
last King of Mercia ; whose kingdom was invaded in 
874, by the West-Saxons, under Alfred. Thus overpow- 
ered, he fled to Rome, where he died. 



95 

Page 0\ — Buthred's Hascardy. 
The latter of these words, signifies a dispersion or scat- 
tering, the cause of which, has been related in the pre- 
ceding note. Hascardy is derived from the Saxon Tfy- 
cabian, which is of the same interpretation. — Vide 
Somner. 

Page 7- — Althamerus writes. 

Andrew Althamer, a Lutheran minister of Nurem- 
berg, who lived about 1560; he wrote several controver- 
sial works, and some valuable notes on Tacitus, from 
which the passage in the text is taken. — Vide Diction- 
naire Universel. 

The termination Worth, which is mentioned in the 
text to signify land situate by water, is more properly 
derived from the Saxon ponft, a court or farm ; and hence 
the place was originally denominated Kenelm's Worth, 
or the Court of Kenelm. 

lb\<\.—Sylred. 
A word signifying kindred, from the Saxon Sib-neben 
— Consanguinity. — Vide Lye. 

Page 8. — Long Ichington. 
Another copy erroneously states this town to be only 
three miles distant from Kenilworth. In Dr. Thomas's 
edition of Dugdale's Warwickshire, Lond. 1730, Vol. 1. 
p. 3-4-5, it is related that at the period mentioned in 
the text, " the Earl of Leicester gave the Queen a glo- 
rious entertainment here, in her passage to Kenilworth 
Castle, erecting a tent of extraordinary largeness for that 
purpose, the pins belonging whereto amounted to seven 
cart-loads ; by which the magnificence thereof may be 
guessed at." Laneham also subsequently notices this 
circumstance, when speaking of the preparations for the 
Queen's reception at Kenilworth. Vide p. 83, ante. 

Ibid. — in a pall of while silk. 
A long and large upper mantle was denominated a 
pall, from the Latin pallium, or palla, a cloak. The great 
mantle worn by the Knights of the Garter, is by ancient 
writers called pallium. 



96 

Ibid. — into every stead. 
That is to say, every where, or into every place ; the 
word stead is from the Saxon Stebe, a room or place. — 
fide Somner. 

Page 10 — The Lady of the Lake. 
The Lady of the Lake was a distinguished character in 
the celebrated romance called " La Morte d' Arthur," 
and in the xxvth chapter of the 1st hook of that Work 
she is thus introduced. " Soo they rode f.yl they came to 
a lake the whiche was a fayr water, and brood. And in 
the myddes of the lake, Arthur was ware of an arme 
clothed in while samyte, [i. e. satin] that held a fayr 
swerd in that hand, loo said Merlin, vonder is that swenl 
that I spak of, with that they sawe adamoisel going upon 
the lake, what damoisel is that ? said Arthur; that is the 
lady of the lake, said Merlin." From this lady it was 
that King Arthur received his sword Excalibor, which 
some have explained to signify cut steel, and others have 
supposed to be a Hebrew term, meaning more precious 
than iron or steel. At the conclusion of the romance 
this famous sword is again cast into the lake, when the 
same hand receives it; the dying Arthur is also taken 
into a barge wherein were many " fayr ladyes, and 
amonge hem al was a queue, and al they had blacke 
hoodes, and al they wepte and shryked when they sawe 
Kyng Arthur." Such was that Sovereign's departure 
from this world, but vet he is not supposed to be dead, 
but only sleeping on the magic lap of the Lady of the 
Lake, " by the wylle of our Lord Jhesu in another place, 
and men say that he shal come ageyn and he shal wynne 
the holy crosse." — Vide " La Morte d'Arthur," Caxton's 
Edit. 1485. 

Page 1 1 . — Shalms, Cornets, &c. 
The word shalm or shawm is derived from the German 
©eljaUne, a musical instrument; it however strictly sig- 
nifies a psaltery or species of harp. The cornet isa horn, 
as its name signifies in several languages. — Fide Bailey, 
Buy, &c. 



97 

Page 14.— Pighl. 
This word is the ancient preterite and participle past 
of the verb to pilch. It signifies, generally, any thing 
placed, fixed, pitched, or determined. Vide Bailey. 

Ibid. — Recorders. 
These were wind-instruments somewhat resembling 
flutes, or rather clarionets ; for by the description which 
is given of one by Lord Bacon, in the Second Century 
of his " Sylva Sylvarum," at the 159th and l()lst experi- 
ments, it may be ascertained that the instrument was 
blown into at one end. It appears from the same 
authority, that it consisted of a tube with stops or wind- 
holes, and a fipple, or mouth-piece ; the lower end was 
open, like the flageolets of the present time. The word 
fipple, used by Bacon for mouth-piece, literally signifies 
a stopper, from the Latin Jibuli, whence it may be 
argued that the upper end of the Recorder terminated in 
a cap, from which issued the pipe ihat conveyed the 
breath throughout the whole instrument. Fide Mallet's 
Bacon, vol. 1, and Bailey. 

Page 15. — Ceruleous. 
Azure-blue, or sky-colour, from the Latin ccrulcus. 
Anciently, blue dresses were worn by all servants. Vide 
Strutt. 

Page 18. — Takes soil. 
111: 
water. Vide Phillips, 

Ibid. — To the spoil of a Karvell. 
A Carvel, or Caravel, was a species of light round ves- 
sel, with a square stern, rigged and fitted out like a 
galley, and of about 140 tons burthen. Such ships were 
formerly much used by the Portuguese, and were es- 
teemed the best sailers on the seas. Vide Phillips. 

Ibid. — The yearning of the Hounds. 
A hunting expression, used to signify the barkm* of 
beagles at their prey. Vide Bailey, 

H 



98 

Page 23. — A great sort of Ban-dogs. 
Bewick describes the Ban-dog as being a variety of 
the mastiff, but lighter, smaller, and more vigilant ; 
although at the same time not so powerful. The nose 
is also less, and possesses somewhat of the hound's 
scent ; the hair is rough, and of a yellowish grey colour, 
marked with shades of black. The bite of a Ban-dog is 
keen, and considered dangerous ; and its attack is usually 
made upon the flank. Dogs of this kind are now rarely 
to be met with. 

Page 25. — The Bear with his pink eyes. 
There is a singular coincidence between Laneham's 
description of a bear-fight, and that given in the Romance 
of" Kenilworth," where the Earl of Sussex presents a peti- 
tion from Orson Pinnit, Keeper of the Royal Bears, 
against Shakspeare and the players. It is evident that 
the author of "Kenilworth" had the passage in his mind ; 
and as the reader may also like to compare the two 
passages, an extract from the Romance is here inserted : 
" There you may see the bear lying at guard with his 
red pinky eyes, watching the onset of the mastiff like a 
wily captain, who maintains his defence, that an assail- 
ant may be tempted to venture within his danger." Vide 
Kenilworth, vol. ii. p. 129. 

Page 26. — Gy rings. 
An old English noun formed of the Latin gyrus, a 
circuit or compass ; a career or circle. 

Page 27- — Diodorus Siculus, an ancient Greek icriter. 

The reference made in the text to the third book of 
this author is erroneous ; the passage alluded to, being 
in the fourth chapter of the second book, the which, as 
it tends more perfectly to illustrate Laneham's remarks, 
is here extracted from Booth's translation of Diodorus 
Siculus, page 82. " The inhabitants are much unlike to 
us in these parts of the world, both as to their bodies 
and their way of living ; but among themselves, they 
are for form and shape like one to another, and in stature 



99 

above four cubits high (six feet). They can bend and 
turn their bodies like unto nerves; and as the nervous 
parts, after motion ended, return to their former state 
and position, so do their bones. Their bodies are very 
tender, but their nerves far stronger than ours, for what- 
ever they grasp in their hands, none are able to wrest out 
of their fingers. They have not the least hair in any 
part of their bodies, but upon their heads, eyebrows, 
eyelids, and chins ; all other parts are so smooth, that 
not the least down appears any where. They are very 
comely and well-shaped, but the holes of their ears are 
much wider than ours, and have something like little 
tongues growing out of them. Their tongues have some- 
thing in them singular and remarkable, the effect both of 
nature and art ; for they have partly a double tongue, 
naturally a little divided, but cut farther inwards by art, 
so that it forms two, as far as to the very root, and there- 
fore there's great variety of speech among them, and 
they not only imitate man's voice in articulate speaking, 
but the various chatterings of birds, and even all sorts of 
notes, as they please ; and that which is more wonder- 
ful than all, is, that they can speak perfectly to two men 
at once, both in answering to what is said, and aptly 
carrying on a continued discourse relating to subject- 
matter in hand ; so that with one part of their tongue 
they speak to one, and with the other part to the other." 
Diodorus, surnamed Siculus, because he was born at 
Argyra in Sicily, flourished about 44 years before the 
Christian era. 

Page 27- — Conradus Gesnerus. 
An eminent physician, naturalist, and scholar of the 
l6th century, who was born at Zurich in 15l6. He was 
made Professor of Greek at Lausanne, and at Basil he 
took the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After having 
published many valuable works in Botany, Medicine, 
Natural History, and Philology, he died of the plague in 
the year 1565, aged forty-nine. His " Mithridates," 
mentioned in the text, is a work on the difference of 
tongues throughout the world. 
h 2 



100 

Page 28. — A comely Quintain. 
In the Glossary to Bishop Rennet's Parochial Anti- 
quities, it is stated that the Quintain was a customary 
sport at weddings. It consisted of an upright piece with 
a cross piece, one end of which is broad, and pierced 
full of holes, and to the other is appended a bag of sand, 
which swings round upon the slightest blow. — " The 
pastime was," says Hasted," for the youth on horseback 
to run at it as fast as possible, and hit the broad part in 
his career with much force. He that by chance hit it 
not at all was treated with loud peals of derision ; and 
he who did hit it, made the best use of his swiftness, lest 
he should have a sound blow on his neck from the bag 
of sand, which instantly swang round from the other end 
of the quintain. The great design of this sport was to 
try the agility of the horse and man, and to break the 
board, which whoever did, he was accounted chief of 
the day's sport." 

Ibid. — Blue buckram bride-lace. 
Laces of this description were anciently presented 
to all the guests at weddings, and scarfs at funerals. — 
Vide Ellis's edit, of Brand. 

Page 29. — Girths were Geazon. 
Or Geason, an ancient word, signifying rare or scarce. 
— Vide Phillips- 

Page 30. — Pucelles. 
A French word for maids or virgins. 

Ibid. — Loober Worts. 
A dull, heavy, and useless fellow. The word is pro- 
bably derived from the Danish lubben, gross or fat, and 
vorte, a wart or wen. — Vide Wolff. — Shakspeare uses 
the latter word somewhat in this sense, when he makes 
Prince Henry say of Falstaff, " I do allow this wen to be 
as familiar with me as my dog." 

Ibid. — A sweet Sucket Barrel. 
A vessel used for containing sweetmeats, for which 
sucket is the ancient word. 



101 

Page 30. — Parcell. 
Partially, or partly. 

Page 33. — His Jument. 
A French word for a mare. 

Page 34. — Certain good-hearted men of Coventry. 
Previous to the suppression of the English Monaste- 
ries, the City of Coventry was particularly famed for the 
Pageants which were performed in it on the 14th of 
June, or Corpus-Christi day. This appears to have been 
one of the ancient fairs ; and the Gray Friars, or Friars 
Minors of the above City, had, as Dugdale relates, " The- 
atres for the several scenes very large and high, placed 
upon wheels, and drawn to all the eminent parts of the 
City, for the better advantage of the spectators : and con- 
tained the story of the Old and New Testament, com- 
posed in the old English rhyme." Coventry appears to 
have derived great benefit from the numbers of persons 
who came to visit these pageants. 

Page 36.' — Too sour in preaching away their pastime. 
While the Catholic religion was the established faith 
of England, there were, in connexion with it, many pub- 
lic amusements and festivals, by which all the orders of 
society were entertained ; such as the performance of 
Moralities or sacred plays, popular customs to be ob- 
served on certain vigils and saints' days, and the keeping 
of the many holidays enjoined by the Romish Calendar, 
in the pastimes common to the lower classes. In the 
commencement of most reformations in society, it is 
common to find the reverse of wrong assumed for right; 
and hence the Puritans, who increased rapidly after the 
English Reformation, not only banished all tnose festi- 
vals and customs peculiar to the Catholic religion, but 
also violently declaimed against popular pastimes, inno- 
cent in themselves, but condemned by them because 
they had existed in former times. This illiberal spirit 
of denouncing public amusements, was, however, not 
without some opposition ; Randolph severely attacked 
" the sanctified fraternity of Blackfriars," in his " Muses 



102 

Looking Glass," and Ben Jonson scarcely ever let them 
pass without some satirical remark. In the Monologue, 
or " Masque of Owls," the latter of which, as it was 
performed at Kenilworth, in the reign of Charles 1,, is 
most to the present purpose ; the third owl is intended to 
represent a Puritan of Coventry, one of those who con- 
tributed to put down the Coventry plays, and is thus 
described : 

HLY OWL THIRD ! 

" A pure native bird 

This, and though his hue 

Be Coventry blue, 

Yet is he undone 

By the thread he has spun ; 

For since the wise town 

Has let the sports down 

Of May-games and Morris, 

For which he right sorry is ; 

Where their maids and their makes, * 

At dancings and wakes, 

Had their napkins and posies, 

And the wipers for their noses, 

And their smocks all-be-wrought 

With his thread which they bought: 

It now lies on his hands, 

And having neither wit nor lands, 

Is ready to hang or choke him, 

In a skein of that that broke him." 

From the above keen satire may be gathered, that in 
abolishing of the Coventry pageants, the trade of that 
City suffered considerably. The chief staple of the place 
was the manufactory of blue thread, of which a great 
consumption was formerly made in the embroidering of 
scarfs and napkins. But beside the decay of trade in 
Coventry, occasioned by the loss of the Pageants, the un- 
patriotic taste for articles of foreign production, was also 
of considerable detriment to that, as well as to the other 
manufacturing towns of England. In a very rare tract, 
entitled M A Briefe Conceipte of English Pollicye," 
Lond. 1581, with the initials W. S. and ascribed to 

* Mates. 



103 

Shakspeare, but in reality written by W. Stafford, there 
are the following passages concerning the effect of this 
destructive fashion upon the staple of Coventry : and as 
they tend so particularly to illustrate the period of the 
Kenilworth pageants, and Laneham's own manners, 
which were so strongly tinctured with foreign fopperies, it 
is presumed that their insertion will not be unacceptable 
to the reader : — " I will tell you ; while men were con- 
tented with such as were made in the market-towns next 
unto them, then they of our towns and cities were well 
set a work, as I knew the time when men were con- 
tented with caps, hats, girdles and points, and all man- 
ner of garments made in the towns next adjoining, 
whereby the towns were then we'll occupied and set a 
work, and yet the money paid for the stuff remained in 
the country. Now, the poorest young man in a coun- 
try cannot be content with a leather girdle, or leather 
points, knives or daggers, made nigh home. And spe- . 
cially no gentleman can be content to have either cap, 
coat, doublet, hose, or shirt in his country, but they must 
have this gear come from London, and yet many things 
hereof are not there made, but beyond the sea : whereby 
the artificers of our good towns are idle, and the occupa- 
tions in London, and specially of the towns beyond the 
seas, are well set a work even upon our costs.— I have heard 
say that the chief trade of Coventry was heretofore in 
making of blue thread, and then the town was rich even 
upon that trade in manner only, and now our thread 
comes all from beyond sea. Wherefore that trade of 
Coventry is decayed, and thereby the town likewise." — 
In consequence, therefore, of the desire for foreign arti- 
cles of dress and ornament, England, which had been 
hitherto in a great measure supplied from her own re- 
sources, became about the close of the sixteenth century 
filled with manufactures which were imported from the 
Continent ; while at the same time the most important 
British productions were exchanged for what, in a com- 
mercial sense, might be considered only as superfluities. 
This, also, is very forcibly hinted at in the pamphlet be- 
fore quoted, in the following manner : — " And I marvel 
no man takes heed to it, what number first of trifles 



104 

comes hither from beyond the sea, that we might either 
clean spare, or else make them within our realm, for the 
which we either pay inestimable treasure every year, or 
else exchange substantial wares and necessary, for them, 
for the which we might receive great treasure. Of the 
which sort I mean as well looking-glasses as drinking, 
and also to glaze windows, dials, tables, cards, balls, pup- 
pets, penners (pen-cases), ink-horns, toothpicks, gloves, 
knives, daggers, ouches (collars or necklaces), brooches, 
aglets (the metal ends of tags or laces), buttons of silk 
and silver, earthen pots, pins and points, hawks' bells, 
paper both white and brown, and a thousand like 
things that might either be clean spared, or else made 
within the realm sufficient for us : and as for some things 
they make it of our own commodities, and send it us again, 
whereby they set their people a work, and do exhaust 
much treasure out of this realm: as of our wool they 
make cloths, caps, and kerseys ; of our fells (hides) they 
make Spanish skins, gloves and girdles ; of our tin salt- 
sellers, spoons and dishes ; of our broken linen cloths 
and rags, paper both white and brown : what treasure 
think ye goes out of the realm for every of these things $ 
and then for altogether it exceeds mine estimation. There 
is no man can be contented now with any other gloves 
than is made in France or in Spain ; nor kersey, but it 
must be of Flanders dye ; nor cloth, but French or 
Friseadowe; nor ouch, brooch, or agglet, but of Venice 
making, or Milan ; nor dagger, sword, knife, or girdle, 
but of Spanish making, or some outward country ; no 
not as much as a spur, but that is fetched at the mil- 
liner. I have heard within these forty years, when 
there was not of these haberdashers that sells French or 
Milan caps, glasses, knives, daggers, swords, girdles, and 
such things, not a dozen in all London : and now, from 
the town to Westminster along, every street is full of 
them, and their shops glitters and shines of glasses as 
well drinking as looking, yea all manner of vessel of the 
same stuff: painted cruises, gay daggers, knives, swords, 
and girdles, that it is able to make any temperate man to 
gaze on them, and to buy somewhat though it serve to 
no purpose necessary." 



105 

Page 36. — Captain Cox. 
There is something extremely characteristic in Lane- 
ham's manner of introducing this humorous personage ; 
as he does it in the ordinary style of his office, it being- 
customary for Heralds, Gentlemen ushers, and waiters of 
the Presence-chamber, to call out for room to be made 
for the passage of any Prince, Ambassador, or Minister of 
state, attending the Court. In Gifford's admirable edition 
of Ben Jonson's Works, in the notes to the " Masque of 
Owls," Captain Cox is supposed " to have been some 
well-known humourist ;" but at any rate, as the ju- 
dicious editor very properly observes, though Laneham, 
in his description of Cox, *' evidently meant to raise a 
laugh at the Captain's expense, there is no occasion for it. 
' The list of his books and songs' shews him to have 
been a diligent and successful collector of the domestic 
literature of his country, and so far he is entitled to 
praise." By some antiquaries, the existence of Captain 
Cox has been considered as doubtful, and by others it 
has been supposed that Laneham shadowed out his own 
portrait under that name ; yet with respect to his library, 
every bibliographer, from Bodley and Selden down to 
those of the present times, has been as anxious to pos- 
sess it as Sir Launcelot du Lake was to win the holy 
vessel. In 1626, a year after Charles I. became King, the 
Kenilworth pageants were again revived ; and for this 
occasion was written the Monologue, or " Masque of 
Owls," which commenced with the ghost of Captain Cox 
appearing on his Hobby-horse. This, according to the 
custom of the morris-dancers, was formed with the 
resemblance of a horse's head and tail, having a light 
wooden frame to be attached to the body of the person 
who performed the hobby-horse. The trappings and 
foot-cloth reached to the ground, and so concealed the 
feet of the actor, who was to prance, curvet, and imitate 
all the motions of a living horse. Such, it may be sup- 
posed, were the horses of those who performed in the 
Coventry play. Almost the whole of the first part of 
Captain Cox's speech alludes to the entertainments ex- 
hibited to Queen Elizabeth, as may be seen by the 
following extract : speaking of his horse, he savs, 



106 

" For to tell you true, and in rhyme, 
He was foaled in Queen Elizabeth's time, 
When the great Earl of Lester 
In this Castle did feast her. 
Now, I am not so stupid 
To think, you think me a Cupid, 
Or a Mercury, that sit him ; 
Though these cocks here would fit him : 
But a spirit very civil, 
Neither poet's god, nor devil, 
An old Kenilworth fox, 
The ghost of Captain Cox, 
For which I am the bolder 
To wear a cock on each shoulder. 
This Captain Cox, by Saint Mary, 
Was at Boulogne with King Ha-iy •, 
And (if some do not vary) 
Had a goodly library, 
By which he was discerned 
To be one of the learned, 
To entertain the Queen here, 
When she last was seen here: 
And for the town of Coventry 
To act to her Sovereignty. 
But so his lot fell out, 
That serving then a-foot, 
And being a little man ; 
When the skirmish began 
'Twixt the Saxon and the Dane, 
(From thence the story was ta'en) 
He was not so well seen 
As he would have been o' the Queen. 
Though his sword was twice as long 
As any man's else in the throng ; 
And for his sake, the play 
Was call'd for the second day." 

In the above lines may also be found an explanation of 
a part of Laneham's text, namely, the word " ton-sword," 
which most probably signifies a large and long two- 
handed sword. The epithet is very likely a corruption of 
espado?i, a French word which has the above meaning. 






107 

Page 44. — Sakipotcnt. 
An epithet derived from the Latin salsipotens, which 
signifies one who has power over the salt seas j in which 
sense it is used by Plautus. Ainsworth. 



Came away. 



Page 45. — His bands scaled. 



Page 50. — Tonsor wise. 
More properly written tonsure-wise ; that is to say, 
shaven in a circle after the manner of the monks. Vide 
Percy. 

Page 50. — Kendal green. 
This description of the minstrel's dress is particularly 
valuable, as it gives a highly-finished portrait of a class of 
men long since entirely extinct ; and therefore, as many 
parts of the costume alluded to in the text are now un- 
known, it will form an interesting note to consider over 
and to explain them. The person mentioned is stated to 
have resembled " a Squire Minstrel of Middlesex •" and 
from this Dr. Percy supposes, that " there were other 
inferior orders, as yeomen minstrels, or the like." Philip 
Stubbes, in his "Anatomy of Abuses," 1595, gives a par- 
ticular detail of the Ruff, which is the first part of the 
minstrel's dress mentioned in the text. From this it may 
be learned, that a setting stick, also alluded to, was an 
instrument made either of wood or bone for laying the 
plaits of the ruff in proper form. " A side gown of Ken- 
dal green," was a long hanging robe of coarse green wool- 
len cloth or baize, for the manufacture of which the town 
of Kendal in Westmoreland was very anciently celebrated. 
From Stafford's tract already cited, it would appear that 
this cloth was appropriated to servants ; as he there says, 
" For I know when a serving-man was content to go in 
a Kendal coat in summer, and a frise coat in winter ; and 
with a plain white hose made meet for his body; and 
with a piece of beef, or some other dish of sodden meat, 
all the week long: now will he look to have at the least 
for summer, a coat of the finest cloth that may be gotten 
for money, and his hosen of the finest kersey, and that of 



iocs 

some strange dye, as Flanders-dye or French-puke, that 
a Prince or great lord can wear no finer if he wear cloth.' 7 
The mantle of Kendal-green, Laneham proceeds to state, 
was gathered at the neck with a narrow gorget, or collar. 
The gorget, which literally signifies a throat-piece, was 
originally a part of the female dress, and consisted of a 
long piece of cloth, or other stuff, wrapped several times 
ahout the neck, raised on either side the face, and secured 
in the front by long pins driven into the folds. The white 
clasp and keeper were probably formed of pewter, as the 
words " white metal" are often used in this sense in the 
writers of Laneham's period. A red Caddis girdle was 
one of those Spanish manufactures of which Stafford so 
much complains ; they derived their name from being 
made at the city of Cadiz in Spain, out of the fells or un- 
tanned hides, which were sent from England to be formed 
into skins of Spanish leather. To this girdle hung, as 
usual, a pair of Sheffield knives, capped, or placed within a 
case ; for as the use of forks was not known in England 
till about the year l6l0, knives, for common purposes, 
were usually made in pairs. The word napkin is placed 
for handkerchief. The description of the minstrel's gown 
will easily be understood ; and it is only requisite to re- 
mark upon it, thzt fust ain-a-napes signifies Naples fustain, 
or what was sometimes called fustain bustain. Nether 
stocks were under stockings. The scutcheon about the 
minstrel's neck, alludes to an ancient custom for persons 
of that profession to wear the badge of that family by 
which thev were retained ; as the three belonging to the 
House of Percy wore each of them a silver crescent. 

Towards the end of the sixteenth century, this class of 
men had lost all their former credit, and were sunk so 
low in public estimation, that in 1597, 3C)th of Eliz. a 
statute was passed, by which minstrels, wandering abroad, 
were included with " rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beg- 
gars," and were directed to be punished as such. Thib 
act seems to have put an end to the profession. 

Page 52. — Flawnes. 
Phillips describes a flawn to be " a kind of dainty 
made of fine flower, eggs, and butter." 



109 

Page 57. — Out of King Arthur's acts. 
In Caxton's edition, " La Morte cT Arthur," the chap- 
ter whence this story is taken is entitled, " How the 
tydings came to Arthur that Kyng Ryons had overcome 
xi kynges; and how he desyred Arthur's berde to 
purfyl his mantel." With respect to the poetical tale 
given in the text, Dr. Percy, by whom it was printed in 
his " Reliques," supposes the thought to have been 
originally taken from Jeffery of Monmouth's History. 
It has also been printed in " Percy Enderbie's Cambria 
Triumphans," with some variations in the text, which is 
probably much more pure than that used by Laneham, 
since it is stated to have been procured from ** a manu- 
script in the library of the Right Honourable Thomas 
Lord Windesore." 

Ibid. — Camelot. 
The city of Winchester. 

Ibid. — Heralds in cloaks. 
The original word in this ballad is hewkes, which is de- 
rived from the French huque, a cloak. The tabards, or 
surcoats, of the ancient heralds, were often denominated 
houces, or housings; and this expression was applied, in- 
discriminately, to their coats of arms, as well as to a dark- 
coloured robe without sleeves, edged with fur, which they 
formerly wore. 

Ibid. — Largess. 
A cry used by the heralds whenever they were rewarded 
by knights or sovereigns. It is still in use at a Coronation. 
It is a French expression, signifying a present or gift. 

Ibid. — Deas. 
The highest or principal table in a hall, which usually 
stood upon a platform. The word comes from the French 
dais, a canopy, as such a covering was usually erected 
over the chief seats. 

Ibid. — 'Gan prick. 
Pressed hastily forwards. 



Voice, sounds. 



110 

Page 57- — Steven. 



Pa^e 58.—Cantle. 
A piece, or part. Shakspeare uses the word in King 
Henry IV. part I. act 3, scene 1. 

"And cuts me, from the best of all my land, 
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out. 



Ibid. — Stour. 



A battle. 



Page 68. — The Spindle and Rock. 
A distaff held in the hand, from which the wool was 
spun by a ball fixed below on a spindle, upon which every 
thread was wound up as it was done. It was the ancient 
way of spinning, and is still in use in many northern 
counties. Vide Bailey. 

Page 7 1 • — A heautiful garden. 
It would appear from the " Secret Memoirs of the Earl 
of Leicester," that the magnificent gardens and spacious 
parks at Kenilworth were not completed without some 
oppression on the part of their possessor, as the unknown 
author of the above work thus speaks concerning them : 
— " The like proceedings he used with the tenants about 
Killingworth, where he received the said Lordship and 
Castle from the Prince, in gift, of 24/. yearly rent, or 
thereabouts, hath made it better than 500/. by year, by 
an old record also found, by great good fortune, in a hole 
of the wall, as it is given out (for he hath singular good 
luck always in finding out records for his purpose ;) by 
virtue whereof he hath taken from his tenants round 
about, their lands, woods, pastures, and commons, to 
make himself parks, chases, and other commodities there- 
with, to the subversion of many a good family which was 
maintained there before this devourer set foot in that 
country." At a subsequent part of the same volume is 
mentioned Lord Leicester's " intolerable tyranny" upon 
the lands of one Lane, " who offered to take Killing- 



Ill 

worth Castle." A royal favourite, however, and a suc- 
cessful minister, was never yet without enemies, and it is 
certain that Lord Leicester was not ; the whole of the 
volume out of which these extracts have been made, is 
filled with charges of the most dreadful crimes with 
which human nature can be stained ; yet even these are 
related with such levity, such seeming familiarity with 
vice, that the reader is tempted to believe that a great 
proportion of it was fabricated by malice, and that the 
author was even worse than the character he describes. 
But to return : — The garden mentioned in the text will 
doubtless remind some readers of those splendid pleasure- 
grounds which belonged to Lord Burleigh, at Theo- 
balds in Hertfordshire, and Sir Walter Raleigh's at Shir- 
burne Castle in Dorsetshire. Of the former, Peck, in 
his " Desiderata Curiosa," says, " He also greatly de- 
lighted in making gardens, fountains, and walks, which 
at Theobalds were perfected most costly, beautifully, 
and pleasantly. Where one might walk two miles in the 
walks before he came to their ends." Sir Paul Hentzner, 
in his " Journey into England," when speaking of the 
same place, describes it more particularly. " From this 
place " [i. e. the gallery,] " one goes into the garden, 
encompassed with a ditch full of water, large enough for 
one to have the pleasure of going in a boat, and rowing 
between the shrubs ; here are great variety of trees and 
plants ; labyrinths made with a great deal of labour ; a 
jet d'eau, with its bason of white marble ; and columns 
and pyramids of wood and other materials up and down 
the garden : After seeing these, we were led by the 
gardener into the summer-house, in the lower part of 
which, built semicircularly, are the twelve Roman Em- 
perors, in white marble, and a table of touchstone; the 
upper part of it is set round with cisterns of lead, into 
which water is conveyed through pipes, so that fish may 
be kept in them, and in summer time they are very con- 
venient for bathing; in another room for entertainment, 
very near this, and joined to it by a little bridge, is an oval 
table of red marble." Concerning the pleasure-grounds 
at Shirburne, in Peck's work before cited, there is only 
a notice that Sir Walter Raleigh had drawn the river 



112 

through the rocks into his garden ; butCokcr states, that 
he built in the park adjoining to the Castle, " from the 
ground, a most fine house, which he beautified with 
orchards, gardens, and groves, of such variety and delight, 
that whether you consider the goodness of the soil, the 
pleasantness of the seat, and other delicacies belonging 
to it, it is unparalleled by any in these parts." The above 
extracts will be an amusing counterpart to Laneham's 
elaborate description of Lord Leicester's gardens. 

Page 71- — White Bears. 
These effigies were allusive to the ancient badge of 
the Earls of Warwick, which was, a hear erect Argent, 
muzzled Gules, supporting a ragged staff of the first ; the 
ragged staffs were introduced in another part of the gar- 
den, vide ante, page 75. Lord Leicester's connexion 
with the Earls of Warwick was through the houses of 
Lisle andBeauchamp, brought into the family of Dudley 
by his mother, Elizabeth Talbot. In 156l, Ambrose 
Dudley, Robert's elder brother, was made Earl of War- 
wick, and consequently the badge was thus introduced. 

Ibid. — Redolent. 
From the Latin redolens, yielding a sweet smell or 
scent. 

Page 73. — Transom and architrave. 
The word architrave signifies the lowest member of 
the cornice, and an architrave window is one with an 
ogee, or wreathed moulding. A transom is a beam or 
lintel crossing over a window. 

Ibid. — Bolt eld columns. 
Boltel is a term used in building, to signify any pro- 
minence or jutting-out beyond the flat face of the wall. 

Ibid. — Pointed, tabled, rock and round. 

It is evident that these precious stones were imitated 

in painting ; and that they were meant to represent the 

gems in their various appearances. Pointed, or rose, as 

it is termed by the lapidaries, is when a stone is cut with 



118 

many angles rising from an octagon, and terminating in 
a point. Tabled is when a diamond is formed with one 
flat upper surface ; and the word table also signifies the 
principal face. Rough is understood to mean the gem in 
its primary state, when its radiance is seen to sparkle 
through the dross of the mine. Round denotes thejewel 
when it is cut and polished with a convex surface. The 
expression, " Garnished with their gold," which follows 
in the text, signifies ornamented with their settings. 

Page 76. — Tridental fuskin. 
A term derived from the Latin fuscina, an eel-spear, 
trident, or three-forked mace. — Vide Ainsworth. 

Page 77. — For etymon of the word worthy to be called 
Paradise. 

Laneham, in making use of this expression, gave to 
Lord Leicester's gardens a name which it was custo- 
mary to apply to pleasure-grounds and houses hi the six- 
teenth and seventeenth centuries, as in the instances of 
"Wressell and Lekinfield, in the East Riding of York- 
shire. 

Page 80. — Binites. 
A word probably coined by Laneham to express duality, 
or the quality of being two. Its principal derivation is 
evidently from the Latin binus, two. 

Page 80. — Bice for ground, and gold for letters. 
Bice is a pale blue colour prepared from the Armenian 
stone, formerly brought from Armenia, but now from 
the silver mines of Germany ; in consequence of which 
smalt is sometimes finely levigated, and called bice. The 
dials alluded to in the text were enamelled, and with the 
sun's reflection on the gold figures, heightened by the 
azure ground, must have had a most splendid appear- 
ance. 

Page 83. — The iron bedstead of Og, King ofBasan. 
Vide Deuteronomy, chap. iii. verse 1 1. 



114 

Page 84. — Lanuginous. 
An adjective derived from the Latin lunuginosus, 
downy, covered with soft hair. 

Page 87- — Defecated. 
A participle formed of the Latin verb defceco, to purify 
liquors from their lees and foulness. 

Ibid . — Git tern — cittern — virgina Is. 
The first two of these instruments, if not the same, 
were at least closely resembling each other. The words 
are a corruption from the Spanish citara, a guitar ; or 
Citron, a guitar-maker. Citterns were a species of that 
extensive class of musical instruments of the guitar 
form, known in the best era of music in England, which 
went under the names of the Lute Ompharion, Bam- 
bora, &c. some of which had notes to 9. — Vide " A Path- 
way to Musick," obi. 8vo. The virginals was a keyed 
instrument of one string to each note like a spinet, but 
in shape resembling a small piano-forte. 

Page 90. — Spanish Sospires, &c. 
Laneham gives in this passage a specimen of making 
love in the various languages in which he was skilled. 
Suspiro, in the Spanish tongue, signifies a very deepsioh ; 
He, in the French, expresses the emotions of the soul in 
love ; Dolce, in Italian, means dear or beloved; and in 
Dutch, Hoofshied is the word for courtship. 



London : 
Printed by S. and It. BENTLEY, Dorset- street, Salisbury-square. 




£mr,v ,' ' 



&ASCOIGHJE, 






AUTHOR OF 

IpmESTcCJElLir F]L3EA§T0"miES AT 
KE NIL WORTH CASTLE.3 



GASCOIGNE'S 
PRINCELY PLEASURES 



AT 



KENILWORTH. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLF.Y, DORSET-STREET, 

SALISBURY-SQUARE. 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 



1 he festivities which took place at Kenilworth Castle 
being now familiar to nearly all the reading public, as 
well by the recent reprint of Robert Laneham's letter, as 
by the admirable and* interesting Romance of Kenilworth, 
it becomes a desirable appendage to both those works to 
have some specimens of the literary compositions which 
were prepared for the dramatic entertainments then dis- 
played before Queen Elizabeth. Although Laneham's 
letter contains a perfect description of the arrangement 
and nature of the various pageants, yet he often professes 
himself unable to give more than a general abstract of the 
many laudatory orations, both in verse and prose, which 
were delivered in the course of the Queen's visit. For 
instance, such expressions as these convey only general 
information : — " A proper poesy in English rhyme and 
metre," — " A rough speech full of passions," — " A 
well-penned metre, and matter after this sort;" and 
he also uses these apologetical terms, which may be 
considered as an excuse for all his omissions. " Had her 
Highness happened this day to have come abroad, 
there was made ready a device of goddesses and nymphs, 
which, as well for the ingenious argument, as for 
the well-handling of it in rhyme and enditing, would 
undoubtedly have gained great liking, and moved no less 
delight. Of the particularities whereof, however, I cease 
to entreat, lest, like the bungling carpenter, by mis-sort- 
ing the pieces, I mar a good frame in the bad setting up ; 
or by my bad tempering before-hand, blemish the beauty 
when it should be reared up indeed." In the printer's 
preface to the present work, also, is another allusion to 



VI INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

the incompleteness of Laneham, " And these being 
thus collected," says he, " I have for thy commodity, 
gentle reader, now published, the rather because of a 
report thereof lately imprinted by the name of the Pas- 
times of the Progress ; which indeed doth nothing touch 
the particularity of every commendable action, but gene- 
rally rehearseth her Majesty's cheerful entertainment in 
all places where she passed; together with the exceeding 
joy that her subjects had to see her, which report made 
very many the more desirous to have this perfect copy." 
Since, then, from this most impartial character of Lane- 
ham's letter, it is evident that it is imperfect in its details, 
a reprint of the " Princelye Pleasures of Kenilworth," as 
advertised at the end of the former publication, is now 
presented to the public, arranged upon the same popular 
plan, to supply his deficiencies, and to give a perfect idea 
of the Kenilworth pastimes. The following masques, as 
will be hereafter seen, were not the productions of one 
person only; and in the notes appended to this volume 
some biographical sketches will be found of the principal 
authors employed ; but, as the ensuing poems are gene- 
rally known under the title of Gascoigne's Princely Plea- 
sures of Kenilworth, having been first printed with his 
works, the account of this celebrated writer has been re- 
served for the Introductory Preface. 

There are several sources whence these memoirs have 
been derived; firstly, the author's own works; secondly, 
the admirable life written by Mr. Chalmers, for his edition 
of the English Poets ; and, lastly, from a carious biogra- 
phical poem by Gascoigne's friend, George Whetstone, 
a reprint of which immediately follows this introduction. 
The history of the last-mentioned authority, though by 
no means singular to bibliographers, is curious. Bishop 
Tanner, in his Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica, edit. 
1748, fol. p. 310, was the first who mentioned it in 
the following doubtful terms, "Whether it is our or 
another George Gascoigne, who is described by George 
Whetstone by this title, a remembrance of the well- 
employd life and godly end of Geo. Gascoign, Esq; 
who deceased at Stamford in Lincolnshire, 7 Octob. 
mdlxxvii. reported by Geo. Whetstone, among the 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. Vll 

books of Tho. Tanner, Bishop of St. Asaph." In conse- 
quence of this notice, a search was commenced through 
the Bodleian Library, where the Bishop's books were de- 
posited. This, as well as the examination of several 
other libraries, was unsuccessful ; and serious doubts 
were entertained, whether such a pamphlet had ever 
existed. At length, however, it was some years since 
found in the collection of the late Mr. Voight, of the 
Custom-house, London ; at the sale of whose books in 
December, 1806, it was bought by Mr. Malone, for 42/. 
10s. 6d. The tract itself is of that character so well 
known to bibliographers, slight, and of uncommon rarity ; 
it contains only thirteen pages, printed in the black letter 
in small quarto. But although it had thus been con- 
cealed, yet, besides Bishop Tanner's words, there was 
sufficient evidence of its existence in the books of the 
Stationers' Company, which shew, that Robert Aggas, 
of the Red Dragon, in St. Paul's Church-yard, had 
a license to print it, dated November 15th, 1577 ; which 
is also mentioned by Herbert, Typog. Antiq. p. II69. 
Such is the history of Whetstone's tract, which, though 
it contains nothing worthy of being denominated, a Life 
of Gascoigne, has some few facts, though very obscurely 
related, that are certainly of great importance to his me- 
moirs, and which have been carefully noticed in the fol- 
lowing sketch : 

George Gascoigne, the son and heir of Sir John Gas- 
coigne, was descended from an ancient and respectable 
family of Essex, and was first educated under a minister 
named Nevinson, who, as Mr. Chalmers observes, was 
probably " Stephen Nevinson, LL.D. Prebendary and 
Commissary of the City and Diocese of Canterbury." 
Gascoigne was next removed to the University ; Wood 
supposes him to have studied both at Oxford and Cam- 
bridge, but from several passages in his works, it is most 
probable that he belonged only to the latter. From 
College, like many young gentlemen of his time, Gas- 
coigne went to Gray's Inn, of which he became a mem- 
ber, and it is probable, that about this period, he entered 
upon that dissolute course of life, nis repentance of 
which is so strongly marked in the greater part of his 



Vlll INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

writings. With a mind certainly highly-gifted with 
poetic feeling, and a disposition amorous to a very great 
degree, it is not surprising, that the youthful poems of 
Gascoigne are all on the subject of love ; Gabriel Harvey, 
in his Gratulationes Valdinenses, celebrates him, with 
Chaucer, and the Earl of Surrey, as a poetic champion of 
the female sex. It was most probably this dissipated 
course of life that caused Sir John Gascoigne to disinherit 
his son; although, from several passages in his poems, it 
would seem that his offences had been exaggerated by 
slanderous reports. Left entirely to himself, and cast 
into the world alone, he for some time endeavoured to 
brave it with independence ; but, finding that the revellers 
with whom he had associated, and the mistresses on whom 
he had lavished his property, were alike insensible to his 
situation or unable to amend it, on March 19th, 1572, he 
sailed for Holland, and entered into the army of William, 
Prince of Orange. After a dangerous voyage, in which 
twenty of the crew were drowned through the pilot's in- 
toxication, Gascoigne landed in Holland, and received a 
Captain's commission under the Prince. His poems en- 
titled " Gascoigne's Voyage into Holland," " The Fruites 
of Warre," and " the Fruite of Fetters, with the Com- 
plaint of the Greene Knight." under which name it ap- 
pears that Gascoigne was known in the army, contaiu 
much information respecting his life at this period. 
From these maybe learned, that he was in a fair path to 
promotion, when an unfortunate dispute with his Colonel 
caused him to remove to Delf, in order to resign his com- 
mission to the Prince, who, however, exerted himself to 
bring about a reconciliation. During these events, while 
Gascoigne remained at Delf, a lady at the Hague, which 
was then occupied by the enemy's troops, sent a letter to 
him concerning his portrait which he had given her. 
This billet got into the possession of his Colonel and his 
enemies, who made such use of it as to excite considera- 
ble suspicion in the minds of many, especially the Dutch 
burghers, that Gascoigne was unfaithful to their cause. 
Jn consequence of this he underwent considerable priva- 
tions, which lasted, as he remarks, " a winter's tvde," 
until the Prince coming into Zealand, Gascoigne laid the 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. IX 

whole affair before him, and immediately received pass- 
ports for visiting the ladv, and an ample testimonial of 
his worth. Soon after, William of Nassau laid siege to 
Middleburg, and Gascoigne evinced such bravery in the 
capture of it, that the Prince, as he relates, presented 
him with, 

" Three hundred guilders good above my pay, 
And bad me bide till his abilitie 
Might better guerdon my fidelitie." 

The credit which Gascoigne had thus attained, was cer- 
tainly a principal cause of the misfortunes which suc- 
ceeded it ; since his enemies had then to add envy to their 
former hatred and suspicion. A reinforcement was at 
that period sent from England to the Spaniards, and 
Gascoigne was ordered, under the command of Captain 
Sheffield, to an unfinished fort at Valkenburg, which 
was immediately attacked. The Dutch forces there 
amounted only to five hundred men, while those of the 
Spanish were about three thousand ; added to which, the 
fortification works v/ere incomplete, and the garrison not 
supplied either with provision or ammunition. It was 
vain to contend when this miserable defence was as- 
saulted, though Gascoigne and his companions held out 
until they were forced to retreat, which they at length did 
to Leyden, the gates of which were shut against them. 
The rest is easily imagined — they surrendered to the 
Spaniards, upon honourable terms, and after about four 
months' captivity, the officers were sent home to their 
own countries. After his return to England, Gascoigne 
resided at his chambers in Gray's Inn, and occasion- 
ally at Walthamstow, as he again began the study of 
the law, and also published such of his more serious 
poems as he expected would efface the memory of his 
amatory verses. In the summer of 1575, he attended 
Lord Leicester at Kenilworth, to assist Hunnis, Golding- 
ham, Mulcaster, &c. in the production of masques and 
pageants for Queen Elizabeth's entertainment ; and in 
the course of the following work, the reader will observe 
what share he took in their composition. When the 
Kenilworth festival was over, Gascoigne is supposed to 
b 



X INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

have been employed at Walthamstow, in preparing his 
several works for the press ; of which an accurate 
bibliographical account will be found at the end of this 
memoir. According to Whetstone, he wrote in this re- 
tirement, the satire of "The Steele Glasse," "The Glass 
of Government," " The Delicate Diet," " a Book of 
Hunting," and " The Doom's Day Drum ;" the latter 
of which was not published until after his death. Though 
Gascoigne was certainly admired and caressed in his own 
time, and enjoyed the friendship and patronage of many 
great and eminent men, "yet," says Mr. Chalmers, "during 
this period he complains bitterly of what poets in all ages 
have felt, the envy of rivals and the malevolence of 
critics, and seems to intimate that, although he appa- 
rently bore this treatment with patience, yet it insensibly 
wore him out, and brought on a bodily distemper which 
his physicians could not cure. In all his publications, 
he takes every opportunity to introduce and bewail the 
errors of his youth, and to atone for any injury, real or 
supposed, which might have accrued to the public from 
a perusal of his early poems, in which, however, the pro- 

f>ortion of indelicate thoughts is surely not very great." 
a little more than two years after the Queen's visit to 
Kenil worth, on October the 7th, 1577, Gascoigne died, 
at Stamford in Lincolnshire, according to Whetstone, in 
the presence of his wife and son, and with such calmness, 

" as no man there perceiv'd 
By struggling sign, or striving from his breath, 
That he abode the pains and pangs of death." 

It is supposed by his biographers, that his age did not 
exceed forty years. 

The above hasty sketch of Gascoigne's life cannot be 
better concluded, than by the following finely-written 
poetic character, which Mr. Chalmers has given of him 
and of his works. " If we consider the general merit of 
the poets in the early part of the Elizabethan period, it 
will probably appear that the extreme rarity of Gas- 
coigne's works has been the chief cause of his being so 
much neglected by modern readers. In smoothness and 
harmony of versification, he yields to no poet of his own 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. XI 

time, when these qualities were very common ; but his 
higher merit is, that in every thing he discovers the 
powers and invention of a poet; a warmth of sentiment, 
tender and natural ; and a fertility of fancy, although not 
always free from the conceits of the Italian school. As a 
satirist, if nothing remained but his Steele Glass, he may 
be reckoned one of the first. There is a vein of sly sar- 
casm in this piece, which appears to me to be original ; 
and his intimate knowledge of mankind, acquired indeed 
at the expense probably of health, and certainly of com- 
fort and independence, enabled him to give a more curi- 
ous picture of the dress, manners, amusements, and fol- 
lies of the times, than we meet with in almost any other 
author. To point out the individual beauties of his mis- 
cellaneous pieces, after the specimens exhibited by Mrs. 
Cooper, by Bp. Percy, Warton, Headley, and Ellis, 
would be unnecessary; but there are three respects in 
which his claims to originality require to be noticed, as 
aeras in a history of poetry. His Steele Glass is among the 
first specimens of blank verse in our language ; his Jocasta 
is the second theatrical piece written in that measure ; 
and his Supposes is the first comedy written in prose." 

Chronological List of the Works, in Verse and Prose, of 
George Gascoigne. 

'* A Hundreth sundrie Flowres, bound up in one small 
Posie. Gathered partly (by translation) in the fyne out- 
landish gardins of Euripides, Ouid, Petrarke, Ariosto, 
and others : and partly by inuention, out of our owne 
fruitefull orchardes in England : Yelding sundrie sweete 
sauours of tragicall, comical, and morall discourses, bothe 
pleasaunte and profitable to the well-smellyng noses of 
learned readers. 

Meretum petere, graue. 

Imprinted for Richarde Smith." [1572]. 4to. 

In this edition, which Herbert has fully described, 
Typog. Antiq. p. 990, was first published, " Supposes, a 
Comedie, written in the Italian tongue by Ariosto, 
englished by George Gascoigne, of Greies inne, Esquire, 
and there presented 1566;" reprinted in Hawkins's 



XU INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

Origin of the English Drama, 1773, vol. II. And " Jo- 
casta, a tragedie, written in Greeke by Euripides, trans- 
lated and digested into acte by George Gascoigne and 
Francis Kinwelmarsh *, of Greies inne, and there by 



* From the very little that is known respecting this author, 
or rather translator, it appears that he was a Member of 
Gray's Inn, that he and his brother Anthony were the intimate 
friends of George Gascoigne, were also gentlemen of Essex, 
and had the character of being noted poets of their time. The 
" Ode to Concord," inserted by him in this translation of 
" Jocasta," in conjunction with Gascoigne, was not originally 
written by Euripides, but has received the highest commenda- 
tion from Warton, as exhibiting great elegance of expression 
and versification, and has been transcribed by that distinguished 
critic into his History of English Poetry, vol. III. p. 374. Kin- 
welmersh has also several verses in " The Paradyse of 
Daynty Deuyses," originally printed in 1576, which Mr. 
Haslewood, in his excellent prefix to the reprint of that work 
in the British Bibliographer, vol. IV. considers as inferior to the 
productions of the more distinguished contributors, Richard 
Edwards ; Thomas, Lord Vaux ; Edward Vere, Earl of Ox- 
ford ; and William Hunnis. The following stanzas, " On 
Learning," have however justly received his commendation, 
as being very pleasing ; and as a fair specimen of Kinwel- 
mersh's poetical abilities, it is hoped they are not obtrusively 
inserted. 

W ho wyll aspire to dignitie, 
By learnyng must advaunced be. 

The poor that liue in needie rate, 
By learning doo great richesse gayne : 
The rich that liue in wealthy state, 
By learnyng doo their wealth maintayne. 
Thus ritch and poore are furthered still 
By sacred rules of learned skill. 

All fond conceits of franticke youth 

The golden gyft of learning staves : 

Of doubtfull thinges to searche the trueth, 

Learning sets forth the reddy wayes. 

O happy him doo I repute, 

Whose brest is fraught with learninges fruite. 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. Xlll 

them presented in 1566." This edition is of such ex- 
treme rarity, that only two perfect copies are known, 
one formerly in the possession of the late George 
Steevens, Esq., and a second in Emanuel College Li- 
brary, placed there, it is conjectured, by Dr. Farmer; a 
third, perfected in manuscript from the last named copy, 
was in the library of Thomas Hill, Esq. Steevens, in a 
notice of this work, has stated that it differed very ma- 
terially from the subsequent edition, in 1587; and con- 
tained several pieces which were afterwards omitted. 
The only variation, however, which was perceptible to 
Mr. Alex. Chalmers, on a comparison of the two editions, 
was the omission of a short piece, not very delicate, 
entitled " Ariosto allegorised." The edition of 1572, ap- 
pears in short to have been an unchastised work, pub- 
lished, as it should seem, without the author's formal 
consent, though certainly not without his knowledge at 
the time of printing. The paginary numbers in all the 
known copies extant, terminate abruptly at 164, and 
recommence at 201. 



There growes no Come within the feelde, 
That Oxe and Plough did neuer tyll : 
Right so the mind no fruite can yeelde, 
That is not lead by learninges skill; 
Of ignoraunce comes rotten weedes, 
Of learnyng springes right noble deedes. 

Like as the Captayne hath respect 

To trayne his souldiers in aray : 

So learning dooth mans mind direct, 

By Fertues staffe his lyfe to stay. 

Though Freendes and Fortune waxeth skant, 

Yet learned men shall neuer want. 

You Impes therefore in youth be sure 
To fraught your mindes with learned thinges : 
For Learning is the fountayne pure 
Out from the which all glory springes. 
Who so therefore wyll glory winne, 
With Learning fyrst must needes beginne. 
Finis. F. K. 



XIV INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

" The Posies of George Gascoigne, Esquier. Corrected, 
perfected, and augmented by the Authour, 1575. 

' Tarn Marti, quam Mercuric' 
Printed at London, for Richard Smith." 1575. 4to. 

This is generally termed the second edition of Gas- 
coigne's poems, and commences with an " Epistle to the 
Reverend Deuines unto whom these Posies shall happen 
to be presented," in defence of his former publication. 
Bishop Tanner, in his enumeration of Gascoigne's pieces, 
has erroneously described them as having been published 
in two volumes, 1577 and 1587; Mr. Haslewood has, 
however, expressed his belief that Tanner should have 
noticed them, as being dated 1572 and 1575; these edi- 
tions being evidently to bind in two volumes, and the 
title, with the date of 1575, was probably intended for 
the second volume. Herbert has noticed another edition 
of these Posies, printed for Christopher Barker, 1575, 4to. 
Typog. Antiq. p. 1077- This, however, though it is not 
intended to deny Herbert's assertion, must remain a 
matter of doubt, as no catalogue, which the writer has 
consulted, appears to contain this particular edition. 
There were some material variations in the names of per- 
sons, in some of Gascoigne's pieces, in the edition of 
1575, from that of 1572. A detailed digest of the con- 
tents, &c. of the edition of 1575, containing the whole 
of Gascoigne's poetry, collected and published anterior 
to the author's decease, is inserted in the preliminary 
memoranda prefixed to Mr. Alex. Chalmers's reprint of 
Gascoigne's poems, in the Works of the English Poets, 
1810. vol. ii. p. 452. 

In the title of this edition of Gascoigne's Posies is in- 
serted an admirable wood-cut device, prefixed by Richard 
Smith to most of the books which he published, repre- 
senting Time drawing forth the figure of Truth from a 
pit or cavern, encircled with the legend " Occulta Ve- 
ritas Tempore Patet." Bishop Percy has copied this 
device, with some variations, in his Reliques of Ancient 
English Poetry, edit. 1765. vol. ii. p. 259; and observes, 
that it possibly suggested to Rubens his well-known de- 
sign of a similar kind, Le Terns decouvre la Veritc, which 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. XV 

he has introduced into the Luxembourg Gallery. Re- 
liques, ut supra, vol. ii. p. 151. 

" The Glasse qfGouernement. A tragicall Comedie so in- 
tituled, because therein are handled the rewardes for Ver- 
tues, as also the punishment for Vices. Done by George 
Gascoigne, Esquier. 1575." 

Colophon " Imprinted at London by H. M. for Chris- 
topher Barker at the Grassehopper in Paules Church- 
yarde. 1575.? 4to. Herbert notices, another edition with 
this Colophon, "Imprinted in Fleet-street at the Faulcon, 
by Henry Middleton, for Christopher Barker, 1575." 4to. 
Typog. Antiq. p. 1076. 1803. It is, however, highly im- 
probable that there was more than one edition ; the first 
notice of the printer and publisher being evidently the 
imprint on the title ; the latter, that of the usual detailed 
Colophon at the end, affixed to almost all books published 
during the reign of Elizabeth. 

" The Hermits Tale at Woodstock, 1575." Royal MSS. 
18 A XLVT1I. in the British Museum. Printed in 
the first volume of Queen Elizabeth's Progresses by Mr. 
Nichols, 1788. 4to. vol. i. Andrews, in his Continuation 
of Dr. Henry's History of Great Britain, has the following 
note : " The poet Gascoigne, as he draws his own pic- 
ture, presenting his book to Elizabeth, has a pen for an 
ear-ornament, and thus he sings, 

" Behold good queene, a poett with a speare, 

(Strange sightes well mark'd are understode the better) 
A soldier armde with pensyle in his eare, 

With pen to fighte, and sworde to write a letter. 

Frontispiece to Gascoigne' 's Translation of 
" The Heremyte." 

" The Princely Pleasures at the Courte at Kenehooorth : 
That is to saye, the copies of all such verses, Proses, or 
Poeticall inuentions, and other deuices of pleasure, as 
were there deuised, and presented by Sundry Gentlemen, 
before the Quenes Maiesty : in the yeare 1575. 

Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, 1576. 8vo. 

Of this edition, which is the first, only one copy is 
known. At the sale of Dr. Wright's library, in April, 



XVI INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

1787, Dr. Fanner obtained it for the very trifling sum of 
ten shillings! On the demise of Dr. farmer, in 1798, 
his library was also dispersed by the hammer, and this 
unique copy was purchased by Mr. Jeffery of Pall Mall, 
for the late George Ellis, Esq., for two pounds six shil- 
lings, which is somewhat surprising, as the rarity of the 
volume had then become more generally known ; it sub- 
sequently passed through the hands of Mr. Park to 
Messrs. Longman and Co., from whom it was trans- 
ferred to its present possessor, William Staunton, Esq. of 
Long-bridge. The existence of this edition was unknown 
to Mr. Nichols, while editing the Progresses of Queen 
Elizabeth; and the " Princelye Pleasures," of Gascoigne, 
are there given from a transcript from the subsequent 
edition of 1587 ; nor does it appear, that although Ritson 
had noticed this edition in his Bibliographia Poetica, that 
Mr. A. Chalmers knew any thing more respecting it than 
Mr. Nichols, as in the preliminary notices prefixed to his 
republication of Gascoigne's poems, speaking of this 
work, he observes, " This piece was first printed in the 
posthumous edition of his works." Works of the English 
Poets, 1810. vol. ii. p. 450. 

** A delicate diet for daintie mouthde Droonkardes. 
Wherein the fowle abuse of common Carowsing and 
Quaffing with hartie draughtes, is honestlie admonished. 
By George Gascoigne, Esquier. 

* Tarn Marti, quam Mercurio.' 

Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, Aug. 22. 
1576." 8vo. 

The late Mr. F. G. Waldron reprinted this tract, which 
originally comprised three sheets, in 1789, from a copy 
which Steevens possessed, and with his usual urbanity 
lent him for that purpose ; it afterwards formed one of 
the rare tracts reprinted in the Literary Museum, edited 
by Waldron, in 1792. 8vo. Mr. Heber purchased Stee- 
vens's copy, at the sale of his library, in 1800. Herbert 
notices another, which was in the collection of Ed- 
ward Jacob, Esq., of Faversham, Kent. Typog. Antiq. 
p. 1042. 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. XVII 

" The wyll of the Deny 11; with his ten detestable Com- 
maundementes : Directed to his obedient and accursed 
chyldren ; and the reward promised to all such as obe- 
diently wil endeuer themselves to fulfil them. Where- 
unto is adjoyned a Dyet for dyuers of the Deuylles dear- 
lings, comonly called dayly Dronkardes. Very necessarie 
to be read, and well considered of all Christians. 

Imprinted by Richard Jhones." no date, 8vo. Herbert, 
p. 1051-2. 

A tract of extreme rarity, a copy appears to have once 
been in the library of the Hon. Topham Beauclerk, see 
Paterson's Catal. Bill. Beauclerk, 1781, part 1. n°. 4137, 
where it is ascribed to George Gascoigne. Steevens re- 
fers to it, in a note on Shakspeare's King Lear : see 
Shakspeare's Plays, edit. 1793, vol. xiv. p. 109; and Mr. 
Haslewood has inserted it in the list of Gascoigne's 
works, British Bibliographer, 1810, vol. i. p. 80. In 1576, 
Richard Jones had licence for " The Temptations of the 
Deuyll : with remedies against the same." Herbert, p. 
1052. Whether this was another book, or the title 
under which the above was originally intended to have 
been published, is doubtful. 

" The Steele Glas. A Satyre copiled by George Gas- 
coigne. Together with the Complainte of Phylomene, 
an Elegie deuised by the same author. 

Tam Marti, quam Mercurio. 

Printed for Richard Smith." 1576. 4to. 

The title of this extremely rare tract, is within a pret- 
tily ornamented border, formed of metal pieces, and has 
also Richard Smith's device, noticed p. xiv. ante. On the 
reverse of the title, is Gascoigne's portrait in armour, 
with a ruff round his neck ; on his right hand a musket 
and bandaleers ; on his left, books, placed with their backs 
to the wall, on a shelf ; and, underneath his motto, 
" Tam Marti, quam Mercurio." A copy of this portrait 
is inserted in tne British Bibliographer, vol. i. p. 73, and 
in the second number of Kenilworth Illustrated. 



u The GrieJ'e of Joy. Certeyne Elegies, whe 
doubtfull Delightes of Manes Lyfe are displaied. 



XV111 INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

Written to the Queenes most excellent Ma tie . 

Tam Marti, quam Mercuric 

1576." 

An unpublished MS. Poem, in the British Museum. 
Beloe has printed the dedication " To the highe and 
mightie Princesse Elizabeth/' in which the author hum- 
bly entreats her Highness " to accept this Nifie for a new 
yeres gyfte," dated " this first of January, 1577." accom- 
panied with a specimen of the poem, taken from the 
fourth song or section, Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce 
'Books, 1807, vol. ii. The object of this poem, which 
consists of what the author calls " four songs," seems in- 
tended to impress the idea so beautifully expressed by 
the writer of the celebrated Ode to Indifference: 

" Bliss goes but to a certain bound ; 
Beyond is agony." 

After treating of the sports and amusements of youth, 
he proceeds to censure the vanities of extreme fondness 
for dancing, leaping, and what he terms roonyng, raultyng, 
&c. continuing his invectives to M wrestlyng," where the 
poem abruptly terminates : " left imperfect," as he ob- 
serves, " for feare of horsmen." The MS. displays a 
beautiful specimen of penmanship and wherever the 
Queen is immediately addressed, the letters are embla- 
zoned in burnished gold. 

Gascoigne has verses before Turbervile's booke of 
Hunting, 1575, " in commendation of the noble Arte of 
Venerie," Cardanus comforte, &c. 1576, and Holly- 
band's French Littleton, 15Q5. He has also a prose pre- 
face before " A Discourse of a Discouerie for a new pas- 
sage to Cathaia, written by Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight, 
1576," Herbert, p. 1041 ; and is celebrated by Gabriel 
Harvey, as one of the English poets who have written 
in praise of Women. 

Chaucerusque adsit. Surreius et inclytus adsit 
Gascoignoque aliquis sit, mea Corda, locus. 

Gratulationes Faldinenses, 1578. 4 to. lib. iv. p. 22. 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. XlX 

The Drum of Dooms-Day, was a posthumous publi- 
cation, and appeared under the following title : — 

" The Droomme of Domesday . Wherein the frailties 
and miseries of man's life, are lyvely portrayed and learn- 
edly set forth. Deuided as appearetn in the page next 
following. Translated and collected by George Gas- 
coigne, Esquyer, 

Tam, &c. ut supra. 

At London, imprinted by John Winder., for Gabriel 
Cawood : dwelling in Paules Churchyard, at the signe 
of the Holy Ghost, 1586." 4to. 

In the dedication to his patron the Earl of Bedford, 
we are informed that this work is principally a translation 
from an old volume he found in his library ; which want- 
ing the beginning and end, he could not ascertain the 
author's name ; that he was prompted to translate, ar- 
range, and publish the same, partly to atone for mis-spent 
time, and partly in consequence of the suggestion of a 
friend, who, after allowing his poetry its full merit, said 
" hee woulde like the gardiner much better if he would 
employ his spade in no worse ground, then either diui- 
nitie or moral philosophic" The dedication is dated, 
" From my Lodging, where I finished this trauaile in 
weake plight for health, as your good Lordshippe well 
knoweth, this 2 of Maye, 1576." 

" The Whole Works of George Gascoigne, Esquyre. 
Newlye compyled into one volume ; that is to say :, His 
Flowers, Hearbes, W'eedes, the Fruites of Warre, theCo- 
medie called Supposes, theTragedie of Jocasta, the Steel- 
glasse, the Complaint of Phylomene, the Storie of Ferdi- 
nando Jeronimi, and the Pieasure at Kenelworth Castle. 

Imprinted by Abell Jeffes, dwelling in the Fore Street, 
without Cree'ple-gate, neere vntoGrubstreet, 1587." 4to. 
Herbert, p. Il6l. 

Mr. Alex. Chalmers denominates this " the third, and 
most complete edition of his works, and may be reckoned 
the best, except that the errors pointed out in the former 
editions are not corrected in this." Works of the English 
Poets, vol. ii. p. 454. Mr. Haslewood has also given a 
particular description of the contents of this volume in 
the British Bibliographer, vol. i. p. 79, 80. 



XX INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 

Abel Jeffes, who was a disorderly member of the Sta- 
tioners' Company, and appears to nave been of too des- 
picable a character to have been admitted on the livery, 
was not only in this, but in other instances, an unprinci- 
pled infringer on the literary property of his fellow-prin- 
ters and stationers. The right of Gascoigne's poems 
seems in part to have been the property of Henry Bynne- 
man, whose apprentice Abel Jeffes had been ; but after 
the decease of his master, 8th of Jan. 1583-4, on which 
day Newberry and Denman, his assignees, delivered up 
certain copies, " which belonged to Hen.Bynneman, de- 
ceased," to the Stationers' Company, for the benefit of 
their poor ; he would seem to have reprinted Gascoigne's 
" whole works," without any right of assignment what- 
ever. " The Steel Glas," printed in 1576, and contained 
in this edition of 1587, appears on inspection to have 
been only once printed, a new title being the only substi- 
tution in lieu of that with the portrait of Gascoigne on 
the reverse. By what means be obtained the printed 
sheets of this and the other pieces attached to the volume 
of 1587, whether by purchase or an unjust encroachment, 
it is now certainly beyond the reach of discovery. The 
surreptitious aggrandisement of the right of Gascoigne's 
" whole workes," or rather the poetical portion only, on 
the part of Abel Jeffes, does not appear to have ensured to 
him the success he possibly had hoped for, as some copies 
are extant with the following variation in the title: 

" The pleasauntest workes of George Gascoigne, Esquire : 
Newlye compyled, &c. &c. ut supra. 

Imprinted by Abel Jeffes, 1587." 4to. See an inte- 
resting article on Gaiscoigne, communicated by Mr. 
Octavius Gilchrist, whose copy had formerly been the 
late Thomas Warton's. Cens. Literaria, vol. i. p. 10p. 
A copy with the same variation appears to have been in 
the library of the Hon. Topham Beauclerk. See Catal. 
Bill. Beauclerk, 1781, part i. n°. 3278. It is also per- 
haps not wholly unworthy of notice to observe, that no 
two copies of the volume of 1587, which the writer has 
seen, were found to comprise the same uniform arrange- 
ment of the several pieces of which it consists. 



A REMEMBRAVNCE 

of the wel imployed life, and godly end of 

George Gaskoigne, Esquire, who 

deceassed at Stalmford in Lin- 

colne Shire, the 7 of October 

1577. 

The reporte of Geor. Whetstons, 

Gent, an eye witnes of his 

Godly and charitable 

End in this world. 

For ma nulla Fides. 

IMPRINTED AT LON- 

don for Edward Aggas, dwelling 

in Pauls Churchyard, and 

are there to be solde. 



The Stanzas commencing, 

" What is this World?" &c. p. xxxi. 

to that ending, 

" Save only man, who as his earthly living is, 
Shall live in wo, or els in endles blis." p. xxxiii. 

Are the contents of a Poem, in the Paradise of Dainty 
Deuises, edit. 1600. entitled " A Description of the 
World," signed G.Gaske. From a conjecture that this 
name was only an abbreviation for G. Gascoigne, these 
stanzas have ever since been attributed to him j it is, 
however, clearly evident that Whetstone's name should 
have supplied the place of that signature, he being in 
reality the author of the following Poem, from which 
they are an extract. G. Gaske had, therefore, no exist- 
ence, though admitted by Ritson as r * an authour " of the 
reign of Elizabeth, in his Bibliographza Poetica, 1302. 
p. 21S. 






The wel imployed life, and godly end of 
G. Gascoigne, Esquire. 

And is there none wil help to tel my tale, 

Who (ah) in helth, a thousand plaints have shone? 

feeles all men joy ? ca no ma skil of bale ? 

yes ! I see a comfort in my mone : 

Help me, good George ! my life and death to touch 
some man for thee may one day doo as much. 

Thou seest my death, and long my life didst knowe ; 

my life? nay, death : to live I now begin : 

But some wil say, Durus est hie sermo, 

Tis hard indeed, for such as feed on sin. 

Yet trust me, frends ! (though flesh doth hardly bow) 

1 am resolv'd, 1 never liv'd til now. 

And on what cause in order shall ensue : 
My worldly life (is first) must play his parte ; 
Whose tale attend ; for once the same is true ; 
Yea, Whetston ! thou has knowen my hidden hart, 
And therefore I conjure thee to defend 
(When I am dead) my life and godly end. 
d 



XXIV 

first of my life, which some (amis) did knowe ; 
I leve mine armes, my acts shall blase the same ; 
Yet on a thorne a grape will never growe, 
no more a churle dooth breed a childe of fame : 
but (for my birth) my birth right was not great : 
my father did his forward sonne defeat.* 

This froward deed could scarce my hart dismay : 

Vertue (quod I) wil see I shall not lacke : 

And wel I wot Domini est terra ; 

Besides, my wit can guide me from a wrack. 

Thus rinding cause to foster hye desire, 

I clapt on cost (a help) for to aspire. 

But, foolish man ! deckt in my pecock's plumes, 
my wanton wil commaunded strait my wit ; 
Yea, brainsick I was drunk with fancies fumes ; 
But, Nemo sine crimine vivit ; 
for he that findes himself from vices free, . 
I give him leve to throw a stone at me. 

It helps my praise that I my fault recite : 

The lost sheep found, the feast was made for joy ; 

Evil sets out good, as far as black dooth white ; 

The pure delight is drayned from anoy. 

But (that in cheef which writers should respect) 

Trueth is the garbe that keepeth men uncheckt. 

* He was Sir John G. sonne and heire disinherited. 



XXV 

And for a trueth, begilde with self-conceit, 

I thought that men would throwe rewards on me ; 

But as a fish seld bites without a baight, 

So none, unforst, mens needs will hear or see ; 

and begging sutes from dunghil thoughts proceed : 

the mounting minde had rather sterve in need. 

Wei, leave I hear of thriftles wil to write : 
wit found my rents agreed not with my charge ; 
The sweet of war, sung by the carpet knight, 
In poste haste then shipt me in Ventures barge. 
These lusty limes, sauiice me (quod I) will rust : 
That pitee were, for I to them must trust. 

Wei plaste at length, among the drunken Dutch, 

(though rumours lewd impayred my desert) 

I boldely vaunt, the blast of fame is such, 

As prooves I had a froward sours hart. 

My slender gaine a further witnes is ; 

for woorthiest men the spoiles of war do mis. 

Euen there the man that went to fight for pence, 

Cacht by sly hap, in prison vile was popt : 

Yea, had not woordes fought for my lives defence,* 

for all my hands, my breth had there been stopt ; 

But I, in fine, did so persuade my foe, 

As (set free) I was homewards set to goe. 

* He had the Latin, Italian, French and Dutch lan- 
guages. 



XXVI 

Thus wore I time, the welthier not a whit ; 

Yet awckward chance lackt force to heard my hope. 

In peace (quod I) ile trust unto my wit ; 

The windowes of my muse then straight I ope, 

and first I showe the travail of such time 

as I in youth imployd in Iooving rime. 

Some straight way said (their lungs with envy fret), 
those wanton layes inductions were to vice. 
Such did me wrong, for (quod nocet, docet) 
our neyghbours harms are items to the wise ; 
And sure these toyes do showe, for your behoof, 
The woes of loove, and not the wayes to love. 

And that the worlde might read them as I ment, 
I left this vaine to path the vertuous waies ; 
The lewd I checkt in Glas of Government : 
And (laboring stil, by paines, to purchase praise) 
I wrought a Glasse wherin eche man may see 
Within his minde what canckred vices be. 

The druncken soule transformed to a beast, 
my Diet, helps a man again to make. 
But (that which should be praisd above the rest) 
My Doomes day Drum from sin doeth you awake, 
for honest sporte, which doeth refresh the wit, 
I have for you a Book of Hunting writ. 



xxvn 

These few books are dayly in your eyes, 
Parhaps of woorth, my fame alive to keep ; 
Yet other woorks (I think) of more emprise, 
Coucht close as yet, within my cofers sleep : 
yea, til I dy, none shall the same revele ; 
So men wil say, that Gaskoign wrote of zeale. 

Envy vile ! foule fall thee, wretched sot ! 
Thou mortal foe unto the forward minde ! 

1 curse thee, wretch ! the only cause, God wot, 
That my good wil no more account did finde. 
And not content thy self to do me fear, 

Thou nipst my hart with Spight, Suspect and Care. 

And first of spight, foule Envies poysoned pye : 
To Midas eares, this as[s] hath Lyntius eyes ; 
with painted shewes he heaves himself on hie. 
full oft this Dolte in learned authors pries ; 
But as the Drone the hony hive doth rob, 
with woorthy books so deales this idle lob. 

He filcheth tearms to paint a pratling tung, 

When (God he knowes) he knows not what he saies ; 

And lest the wise should find his wit but yung, 

he woorkes all means their woorkes for to dispraise. 

To smooth his speech, the beast this patch doth crop : 

he shows the bad, the writers mouthes to stop. 



XXV 111 

Ye, woorse than this, he dealeth in offence, 
(Ten good turnes he with silence striketh dead) ; 
A slender fault, ten times beyond pretence, 
This wretched spight in every place doth spread ; 
And with his breth, the Viper dooth infect 
The hearers heads and harts with false suspect. 

Now of suspect the propertie to showe : 
he hides his dought, yet still mistrusteth more 
The man ; suspect is so debard to knowe 
The cause and cure of this his ranckling sore ; 
And so in vain he good account doeth seek, 
who by this Feinde is brought into mislike. 

Now hear my tale, or cause which kild my hart ! 

These privy foes, to tread me under foot, 

My true intent with forged faults did thwart ; 

so that I found, for me it was no boot 

to woork, as Bees, from weedes, with honyd ranes, 

when Spiders turned my flowers into banes. 

When my plain woords by fooles miscontred were, 
by whose fond tales reward held his hands back 
To quite my woorth, a cause to settle care 
within my brest, who wel deserv'd, did lack ; 
for who can brook to see a painted crowe 
Singing aloft, when Turtles mourn belowe? 



XXIX 

What man can yeld to starve among his books, 
and see pied Doultes uppon a booty feed ? 
What honest minde can live by favring looks, 
And see the lewd to rech a freendly deed ? 
what hart can bide in bloody warres to toile, 
when carpet swads devour the soldiers spoile ? 

I am the wretch whom fortune stinted soe : 
These men were bribed ere I had breth to speak. 
Muse then no whit with this huge overthrowe, 
though crushing care my giltles hart doth break ; 
But you wil say that in delight doo dwell ; 
my outward showe no inward greef did tel. 

I graunt it true ; but hark unto the rest ! 
The Swan in songs dooth knolle her passing bel ; 
The Nightingale with thornes against her brest, 
when she might mourn, her sweetest laye doth yel ; 
The valiant man so playes a pleasant parte, 
When mothes of mone doo gnaw upon his hart. 

for proofe, myself, with care not so afeard, 

But as hurt Deere waile (through their wounds, 

When stoutly they doo stand among the heard) alone ; 

So that I saw but few hark to my mone, 

made choise to tel deaf walles my wretched plaint, 

in sight of men who nothing seemd to faint. 



XXX 

But as oft use doeth weave an iron cote, 
as misling drops hard flints in time doth pearse, 
By peece meales care so wrought me under foot, 
but more than straunge is that I now rehearse : 
Three months I lived and did digest no food, 
when none by arte my sicknes understood. 

What helpeth then ? to death I needs must pine : 
yet as the horse, the use of warre which knowes, 
If he be hurt, will neither winch nor whine, 
but til he dye poste with his Rider goes, 
Even so my hart whilst lungs may lend me breth, 
Bares up my limmes, who living go like death. 

But what availes Achilles hart to have, 
king Cressus welth, the sway of all the world ? 
The Prince, the Peere, so to the wretched Slave, 
when death assaults, from earthly holdes are whorld 
yea, oft he strikes ere one can stir his eye ; 
Then good you live as you would dayly dye. 

You see the plight I wretched now am in, 

I looke much like a threshed ear of corne ; 

I holde a forme within a wrimpled skin, 

but from my bones the fat and flesh is worne : 

See ! see the man, late plesures minion, 

pinde to the bones with care and wretched mone. 



XXXI 

See gallants ! see a picture worth the sight, 

(as you are now, myself was heretofore) 

my body, late stuft ful of many might, 

As bare as Job is brought to Death his doore ; 

My hand of late which fought to win me fame, 

Stif clung with colde, wants forse to write my name. 

My legges which bare my body ful of flesh, 
Unable are to stay my bones upright ; 
My tung (God wot!) which talkt as one would wish, 
In broken words can scarce my minde recite ; 
My head, late stuft with wit and learned skill, 
may now conceive but not convay my wil. 

What say you, freends ! this sudain chaunge to see ? 
you rue my greef, you doe like flesh and blood ; 
But mone your sinnes, and never morne for me. 
And to be plain, I would you understood 
My hart dooth swim in seas of more delight : 
Then your who seems to rue my wretched plight. 

What is this world ? A net to snare the soule, 

A mass of sinne, a desart of decett, 

A moments joy, an age of wretched dole, 

A lure from grace, for flesh a loothsome baight, 

Unto the minde a cankerworm of care, 

Unsure, unjust in rendring man his share ; 



xxxn 

A place where pride oreruns the honest minde, 
Where rich men joynes to rob the shiftles wretch, 
Where bribing mists the judges eyes doo blinde, 
Where Parasites the fattest crummes do catch; 
Where good deserts (which chalenge like reward) 
Are overblowen with blasts of light regard. 

And what is man? Dust, Slime, a puff of winde, 
Conceivd in sin, plaste in the woorld with greef, 
Brought up with care, til care hath caught his minde, 
And then, (til death vouchsafe him some relief) 
Day, yea nor night, his care dooth take an end, 
To gather goods for other men to spend. 

O foolish man that art in office plaste ! 
Think whence thou camst, and whether the shall goe : 
The huge hie Okes small windes have overcast, 
when slender reeds in roughest wethers growe. 
Even so pale death oft spares the wretched wight, 
And woundeth you who wallow in delight. 

You lusty youths that nourish hie desire ! 
Abase your plumes which makes you look so big: 
The Colliers cut the Courtiars steed wil tire ; 
Even so the Clark the Parsones grave dooth dig, 
whose hap is yet heer longer life to win, 
Doth heap (God wot) but sorowe unto sinne. 



xxxin 

And to be short, all sortes of men take heede ! 
the thunderboltes the loftye Towers teare ; 
The lightning flash consumes the house of reed ; 
Yea more in time all earthly things will weare, 
Save only man, who as his earthly living is, 
Shall live in wo, or els in endles blis. 

More would I say, if life would lend me space, 
but all in vain ; death waits of no mans will : 
The tired Jade dooth trip at every pace, 
when pampered horse will praunce against the hil 
So helthfull men at long discourses sporte, 
when few woords the sick would fain reporte. 

The best is this, my will is quickly made : 
my welth is small, the more my conscience ease. 
This short accompt (which makes me ill apaid) 
my loving wife and sonne will hardly please : 
But in this case, to please them as I may, 
These following woords my testament do wray. 

My soule I first bequeath Almighty God, 
An though my sinnes are grevous in his sight, 
I firmly trust to scape his firy rod, 
whenas my faith his deer Sonne shall recite, 
whose precious blood (to quench his Fathers ire) 
Is sole the cause that saves me from hel fire. 



XXXIV 

My body now which once I decked brave, 
(from whence it came) unto the earth I give ; 
I wish no pomp the same for to ingrave ; 
once buried corn dooth rot before it live, 
And flesh and blood in this self sorte is tryed : 
Thus buriall cost is (without proffit) pride. 

I humbly give my gratious sovereign Queene 
(by service bound) my true and loyall hart ; 
And trueth to say, a sight but rarely seene, 
As Iron greeves from thadamant to parte ; 
her highnes so hath recht the Grace alone 
To gain all harts, yet gives her hart to none. 

My loving wife whose face I fain would see, 

my love I give, with all the welth I have ; 

But since my goods (God knoweth) but slender bee, 

most gratious Queene ! for Christs his sake I crave 

(not for any service that I have doon) 

you will vouchsafe to aid her and my sonne. 

Come, come, deer Sonne ! my blessing take in parte, 

and therwithall I give thee this in charge, 

first serve thou God, then use bothe wit and arte 

thy fathers det of service to discharge ; 

which (forste by death) her Maiestie he owes, 

beyond desarts who still rewardes bestowes. 



XXXV 

I freely now all sortes of men forgive 

Their wrongs to me, and wish them to amend ; 

And as good men in charitte should live, 

I crave my faults may no mans minde offend : 

So here is all I have to bequest, 

And this is all I of the world request. 

Now farwell, Wife ! my Sonne, and frends, farwel ! 

farewell, O world, the baight of all abuse ! 

Death ! where is thy sting ? O Devil ! where is thy hel ? 

I little fear the forses you can use ; 

yea to your teeth, I doo you both defye ! 

Vt essem Christo, cupio dissolui. 

In this good mood, an end worthy the showe, 
Bereft of speech, his hands to God he heavd ; 
And sweetly thus good Gaskoigne went a Dio ; 
yea with such ease, as no man there perceivd 
By strugling signe, or striving from his breth, 
That he abode the pains and pangs of Death. 



XXXVI 

EXHORTATIO. 

H*s sean is playd ; you folowe on the act : 
Life is but Death, til flesh and blood be slain : 
God graunt is woords within your harts be pact ; 
As good men doo holde earthly plesures vain ; 
The good for their needs Vtuntur mundo : 
And use good deeds Vt fruantur Deo. 

Contemne the chaunge (use nay abuse) not God, 

Through holy showes this worldly muck to scratch : 

To deale with men and Saints is very od, 

hypocrisie a man may over catch. 

But hypocrite ! thy hart the Lord dooth see, 

who by thy thoughts (not thy words) wil judge thee. 

Thou jesting foole, which makst at sin a face ! 

Beware that God in earnest plague thee not ; 

for whereas he is coldest in his grace, 

Euen there he is in vengeance very hot ; 

Tempt not to far ; the lothest man to fight, 

When he is forste, the lustiest blowes dooth smight. 

You Courtiers ! check not Merchants for their gain : 
you by your losse doo match with them in blame. 
The Lawyers life you Merchants ! doo not staine : 
The blinde for slouth may hardly check the lame ; 
I meane that you, in Ballance of deceit, 
wil Lawyers payre, I feare with overwaight. 



XXXV11 

you Lawyers now, who earthly Judges are ! 

you shal be judgd, and therfore judge aright : 

you count Ignorantia Juris no bar ; 

Then ignorance your sinnes wil not acquite. 

Read, read God's law, with which yours should agre, 

That you may judge as you would judged bee. 

You Prelats now, whose woords are perfect good ! 

make showe in woorkes, that you your woords insue : 

A Diamond holdes his vertue set in wood, 

but yet in Golde it hath a fresher hue ; 

Even so Gods woord told by the Devil is pure; 

Preacht yet by Saints it doth more heed procure. 

And Reader now ! what office so thou have, 
to whose behoofe this breef discourse is tolde, 
Prepare thy self eche houre for the grave : 
the market eats as wel young sheep as olde ; 
Even so the Childe who fears the smarting rod, 
The father oft dooth lead the way to God. 

And bothe in time this worldly life shall leave ; 
thus sure thou art, but knowst not when to dye ; 
Then good thou live, least death doo the deceive, 
as through good life thou maist his force defye ; 
for trust me, man no better match can make ; 
Then leave unsure for certain things to take. 

Viuit post funera virtus. 



XXXV111 



AN EPITAPH 

WRITTEN BY G. W. OF THE DEATH OP M. G. 
GASKOYGNE. 

For Gaskoygnes death, leave to mone or morne ! 
You are deceived: alive the man is stil. 
Alive ? O yea, and laugheth death to scorne, 
in that, that he his fleshly lyfe did kil. 

For by such death, two lyves he gaines for one : 
His soule in heaven dooth live in endles joye, 
his woorthy woorks such fame in earth have sowne, 
As sack nor wrack his name can there destroy. 

But you wil say, by death he only gaines, 

And now his life would many stand in stead. 

O dain not, Freend! (to counterchaunge his paynes) 

If now in heaven, he have his earned meade ; 

For once in earth his toyle was passing great, 

And we devourd the sweet of all his sweat. 

FINIS. 

Nemo ante obitum beatus. 



THE 



PRINCELY PLEASURES 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



A brief rehearsal, or rather a 

true copy of as much as was presented 

before her Majesty at Kenilworth, during 

her last abode there, as 

folio we th. 



THE PRINTER TO THE READER. 

[From the first edition ' Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, 1576. 1 ] 



Being advertised (gentle reader) that in this last Pro- 
gress, her Majesty was (by the Right Noble Earl of Lei- 
cester) honourably and triumphantly received and enter- 
tained at his Castle of Kenilworth: and that sundry 
Pleasant and Poetical Inventions were there expressed, 
as well in verse as in prose. All which have been sundry 
times demanded for, as well at my hands, as also of other 
printers, for that indeed all studious and well disposed 
young gentlemen and others, were desirous to be par- 
takers of those pleasures by a profitable publication : I 
thought meet to try by all means possible if I might reco- 
ver the true copies of the same, to gratify all such as had 
required them at my hands, or might hereafter be stirred 
with the like desire. And in fine, I have with much 
travail and pain obtained the very true and perfect copies 
of all that were there presented and executed ; over and 
besides, one moral and gallant Device, which never 
came to execution, although it were often in readiness. 
And these (being thus collected,) I have (for thy commo- 
dity, gentle reader) now published : the rather because of 
a report thereof lately imprinted by the name of the Pas- 
time of the Progress : which (indeed) doth nothing touch 
the particularity of every commendable action, but gene- 
rally rehearseth her Majesty's cheerful entertainment in 
all places where she passed : together with the exceeding 
joy that her subjects had to see her : which report made 
very many the more desirous to have this perfect copy : for 
that it plainly doth set down every thing as it was indeed 
presented, at large : And further doth declare, who was 
Author and Deviser of every Poem and Invention. So 
that I doubt not but it shall please and satisfy thee both 
with reason and contentation : In full hope whereof, I 
leave thee to the reading of the same, and promise to be 
still occupied in publishing such works as may be both 
for thy pleasure and commodity. 

This 26th of March, 1576. 




Her Majesty came thither (as I remember) on 
Saturday being the ninth of July last past. On 
which day there met her on the way, some- 
what near the Castle, Sibylla, who prophesied 
unto her Highness the prosperous reign that 
she should continue, according to the happy 
beginning of the same. The order thereof was 
this : Sibylla being placed in an arbour in the 
park near the highway, where the Queen's Ma- 
jesty came, did step out and pronounced as fol- 
loweth : 



All hail, all hail, thrice-happy Prince, 

I am Sibylla, she 
Of future chance, and after-haps, 

fore-shewing what shall be. 
As now the dew of heavenly gifts 

full thick on you doth fall, 
E'en so shall virtue more and more 

augment your years withal. 



4 KENILWORTH. 

The rage of war bound fast in chains 

shall never stir nor move : 
But peace shall govern all your days, 

encreasing subjects love. 
You shall be called the Prince of Peace, 

and peace shall be your shield, 
So that your eyes shall never see 

the broils of bloody field. 
If perfect peace then glad your mind, 

he joys above the rest, 
Which doth receive into his house 

so good and sweet a guest. 
And one thing more I shall foretell, 

as by my skill I know : 
Your coming is rejoiced at 

ten thousand times and mo. 
And whiles your Highness here abides, 

nothing shall rest unsought, 
That may bring pleasure to your mind, 

or quiet to your thought. 
And so pass forth in peace (O Prince 

of high and worthy praise) : 
The God that governs all in all, 

encrease your happy days. , 



KENILWORTH. 5 

This device was invented, and the verses also 
written, by M. Hunnis, Master of her Majesty's 
Chapel, 

Her Majesty passing on to the first gate, 
there stood on the leads and battlements thereof 
six Trumpeters hugely advanced, much exceed- 
ing the common stature of men in this age, who 
had likewise huge and monstrous trumpets 
counterfeited, wherein they seemed to sound: 
and behind them were placed certain trum- 
peters, who sounded indeed at her Majesty's en- 
try. And by this dumb shew it was meant, that 
in the days and reign of King Arthur, men were 
of that stature. So that the Castle of Kenil- 
worth should seem still to be kept by Arthur's 
heirs and their servants. And when her Ma- 
jesty entered the gate, there stood Hercules for 
Porter, who seeming to be amazed at such a 
presence, upon such a sudden, proffered to stay 
them. But yet at last being overcome by view 
of the rare beauty and princely countenance 
of her Majesty, yielded himself and his charge, 



6 KENILWOllTH. 

presenting the keys unto her Highness, with 
these words : — 

What stir, what coil is here? come back, hold, 
whither now ? 

Not one so stout to stir, what harrying have we 
here? 

My friends a porter I, no poper here am plac'd : 

By leave perhaps, else not while club and limbs do 
last. 

A garboil this indeed, what, yea, fair Dames ? what 
yea, 

What dainty darling's here? oh God, a peerless 
pearl ; 

No worldly wight no doubt, some sovereign Goddess 
sure: 

Even face, even hand, even eye, even other fea- 
tures all, 

Yea beauty, grace, and cheer, yea port and ma- 
jesty, 

Shew all some heavenly Peer, with virtues all 
beset. 

Come, come, most perfect paragon, pass on with joy 
and bliss, 



KENILWORTH. 7 

Most worthy welcome, Goddess guest, whose presence 

gladdeth all. 
Have here, have here, both club and keys, myself, 

my ward I yield, 
E'en gates and all, yea Lord himself, submit and seek 

your shield. 

These verses were devised and pronounced 
by Master Badger of Oxford, Master of Arts, 
and Bedel in the same University. 

When her Majesty had entered the gate, and 
come into the base court, there came unto her 
a Lady attended with two nymphs, who came 
all over the pool, being so conveyed, that it 
seemed she had gone upon the water. This 
Lady named herself the Lady of the Lake, who 
spake to her Highness as followeth : 

Though haste say on, let suit obtain some stay, 
(Most peerless Prince, the honour of your kind) 

While that in short my state I do display, 

And yield you thanks for that which now I find, 

Who erst have wish'd that death me hence had fet, 

If gods, not born to die, had ow'd death any debt. 



8 KENILWORTH. 

I am the Lady of this pleasant lake, 

Who since the time of great King Arthur's reign, 
That here with royal court abode did make, 

Have led a low'ring life in restless pain. 
Till now that this your third arrival here 
Doth cause me come abroad, and boldly thus appear. 

For after him, such storms this Castle shook, 
By swarming Saxons first who scourg'd this land, 

As forth of this my pool I ne'er durst look. 

Though Kenelm King of Merce did take in hand 

(As sorrowing to see it in deface) 

To rear these ruins up, and fortify this place. 

For straight by Danes and Normans all this isle 
Was sore distress'd, and conquered at last. 

Whose force this Castle felt, and I therewhile 

Did hide my head, and though it straightway past 

Unto Lord Saintlowe's hands, I stood at bay : 

And never shew'd myself, but still in keep I lay. 

The Earl Sir Mountford's force gave me no heart, 
Sir Edmund Crouchback's state, the prince's son, 

Could not cause me out of my lake to part, 
Nor Roger Mortimer's ruff, who first begun 



KENILWORTH. \) 

(As Arthur's heir) to keep the Table Round, 
Could not comfort my heart, or cause me come 
on ground. 

Nor any owner else, not he that's now, 
(Such fear I felt again, some force to feel) 

Till now the Gods do seem themselves t' allow 
My coming forth, which at this time reveal 

By number due, that your thrice coming here 

Doth bode thrice happy hope, and voids the place 
from fear. 

Wherefore I will attend while you lodge here, 
(Most peerless Queen) to Court to make resort ; 

And, as my love to Arthur did appeal 1 , 
So shall 't to you in earnest and in sport. 

Pass on, Madam, you need no longer stand, 

The Lake, the Lodge, the Lord, are yours now to 
command. 

These verses were devised and penned by M 
Ferrers, sometime Lord of Misrule in the Court. 

Her Majesty proceeding towards the inner 
court, passed on a bridge, the which was railed 
in on both sides. And on the tops of the posts 
c 



10 KENILWORTH. 

thereof were set sundry presents, and gifts of 
provision: as wine, corn, fruits, fishes, fowls, 
instruments of music, and weapons for martial 
defence. All which were expounded by an 
actor clad like a Poet, who pronounced these 
verses in Latin : 

Jupiter e summi dum vertice cernit Olympi, 
Hue, Princeps Regina, tuos te tendere gressus : 
Scilicet eximise succensus imagine formae, 
Et memor antiqui qui semper ferverat ignis, 
Siccine Ccelicolae pacientur turpiter (inquit) 
Muneris exortem Reginam hoc visere castrum, 
Quod tam laeta subit ? Reliqui sensere tonantis 
Imperium superi, pro se dat quisque libenter : 
Musicolas Sylvanus aves ; Pomonaque poma, 
Fruges alma Ceres, rorantia vina Lyseus ; 
Neptunus pisces, tela et tutantia Mavors : 
Haec (Regina potens) superi dant munera divi: 
Ipse loci dominus dat se Castrumque Kenelmi. 

These verses were devised by Master Mun- 
caster, and other verses # to the very self same 

* The other verses are preserved in the recent edition 
of Laneham's Letter, p. 16. 



KENILWORTH. 11 

effect were devised by M. Paten, and fixed over 
the gate in a frame. I am not very sure whe- 
ther these or Master Paten's were pronounced 
by the Author, but they were all to one 
effect. This speech being ended, she was 
received into the inner court with sweet 
music. And, so alighting from her horse, 
the drums, fifes and trumpets sounded: where- 
with she mounted the stairs, and went to her 
lodging. 

On the next day (being Sunday) there was 
nothing done until the evening, at which time 
there were fire-works shewed upon the water, 
which were both strange and well executed ; 
as sometimes passing under the water a long 
space, when all men had thought they had been 
quenched, they would rise and mount out of 
the water again, and burn very furiously until 
they were utterly consumed. 

Now to make some plainer declaration and 
rehearsal of all these things before her Majesty, 
on the tenth of July, there met her in the 
forest, as she came from hunting, one clad like 
a savage man, all in ivy, who, seeming to won- 



12 KEN1LWORTH. 

der at such a presence, fell to quarrelling with 
Jupiter as followeth : — 

O ! thund'ring Jupiter, 

who svvayest the heavenly sword : 
At whose command all gods must crouch, 

and 'knowledge thee their Lord. 
Since I (O wretch therewhiles) 

am here by thy decree, 
Ordained thus in savage-wise 

for evermore to be. 
Since for some cause unknown, 

but only to thy will : 
I may not come in stately Court, 

but feed in forests still. 
Vouchsafe yet, greatest god, 

that I the cause may know, 
Why all these worthy Lords and Peers 

are here assembled so ? 
Thou knowest (O mighty god) 

no man can be so base, 
But needs must mount, if once it see 

a spark of perfect grace. 
And since I see such sights, 

I mean such glorious Dames, 



KENILWORTH. 13 

As kindle might in frozen breasts 

a furnace full of flames, 
I crave (great god) to know 

what all these Peers might be : 
And what has moved these sundry shews, 

which I of late did see? 
Inform me, some good man, 

speak, speak some courteous knight : 
They all cry mum ; what shall I do, 

what sun shall lend me light ? 
Well, Echo, where art thou? 

could I but Echo find, 
She would return me answer yet 

by blast of every wind. 
Ho Echo: Echo, ho, 

where art thou, Echo, where ? 
Why, Echo, friend, where dwell'st thou now ! 

thou wont'st to harbour here. 

{Echo answered.) 
Echo. Here. 

then tell thou me some news, 
For else my heart would burst with grief, 

of truth it cannot chuse. 
Echo. Chuse. 



14 KENILWORTIl. 

Chuse ? why ? but thou me help : 

I say my heart will break : 
And therefore even of courtesy, 

I pray thee Echo speak. 
Echo, Speak. 

I speak ? yes, that I will, 

unless thou be too coy, 
Then tell me first what is the cause, 

that all the people joy ? 
Echo. Joy. 

Joy ? surely that is so, 

as may full well be seen : 
But wherefore do they so rejoice ? 

is it for King or Queen? 
Echo. Queen. 

Queen? what, the Queen of Heaven? 

they knew her long agone : 
No sure some Queen on earth, 

whose like was never none. 
Echo. None. 

O then, it seems the Queen 

of England for to be, 
Whose graces make the Gods to grudge : 

methinks it should be she. 
Echo. She. 



KENILWORTH. 15 

And is it she indeed ? 

then tell me what was meant 
By every shew that yet was seen, 

good Echo be content. 
Echo. Content. 

What mean'd the woman first, 

which met her as she came ? 
Could she divine of things to come, 

as Sibyls use the same ? 
Echo. The same. 

The same? what Sibyl? she, 

which useth not to lie ? 
Alas ! what did that beldame there ? 

what did she prophesy ? 
Echo. Prophesy. 

O then by like she caus'd 

the worthy Queen to know : 
What happy reign she still should hold, 

since heaven 's ordained so. 
Echo. So. 

And what mean'd those great men, 

which on the walls were seen ? 
They were some giants certainly, 

no men so big have been. 
Echo. Have been. 



16 KRNIL WORTH. 

Have been ? why then they served 

King Arthur man of might, 
And ever since this castle kept, 

for Arthur's heirs by right. 
Echo. Right. 

Well, Hercules stood by, 

why came he from his dorter ? 
Or was it eke some monstrous man, 

appointed for a porter ? 
Echo. A porter. 

A porter ? surely then, 

he either was acrazed, 
Or else to see so many men, 

his spirits were amazed. 
Echo. Amazed. 

Amazed ? so methought, 

why did he let them pass : 
And yield his keys ? because he knew, 

his master's will so was. 
Echo. So was. 

Well, then did he but well, 

yet saw I yet a Dame : 
Much like the Lady of the Lake ; 

perchance so was her name. 
Echo. Her name. 



KENILWORTH. 17 

Alas, and what could she 

(poor dame distress'd) deserve ? 
I knew her well : percase she came 

this worthy Queen to serve. 
Echo. To serve. 

So would I her advise : 

but what mean'd all those shifts, 
Of sundry things upon a bridge 1 

were those rewards of gifts ? 
Echo. Gifts. 

Gifts ? what ? sent from the god, 

as presents from above ? 
Or pleasures of provision, 

as tokens of true love 1 
Echo. True love. 

And who gave all these gifts ? 

I pray thee (Echo) say. 
Was it not he, who (but of late) 

this building here did lay ? 
Echo. Dudley. 

O Dudley, so methought : 

he gave himself and all, 
A worthy gift to be receiv'd, 

and so I trust it shall. 
Echo. It shall. 

D 



18 KENILWORTH. 

What mean'd the fiery flames, 

which through the waves so flew ? 
Can no cold answers quench desire ? 

is that experience true ? 
Echo, True. 

Well, Echo, tell me yet, 

how might I come to see 
This comely Queen of whom we talk ? 

oh were she now by thee. 
Echo. By thee. 

By me ? oh were that true, 

how might 1 see her face ? 
How might I know her from the rest, 

or judge her by her grace ? 
Echo. Her grace. 

Well then, if so mine eyes 

be such as they have been, 
Methinks I see among them all, 

this same should be the Queen. 
Echo. The Queen. 

Herewith he fell on his knees and spake as 
followeth : — 



KENILWORTH. 19 

O Queen ! I must confess, 

it is not without cause : 
These civil people so rejoice, 

that you should give them laws. 
Since I, which live at large, 

a wild and savage man, 
And have run out a wilful race, 

since first my life began, 
Do here submit myself, 

beseeching you to serve : 
And that you take in worth my will, 

which can but well deserve. 
Had I the learned skill, 

which in your head is found : 
My tale had flow'd in eloquence, 

where now my words are drown'd. 
Had I the beauteous blaze, 

which shines in you so bright : 
Then might I seem a falcon fair, 

which now am but a kite. 
Could I but touch the strings 

which you so heavenly handle ; 
I would confess, that fortune then, 

full friendly did me dandle. 



20 K I! NIL WORT H. 

O Queen (without compare) 

you must not think it strange, 
That here amid this wilderness, 

your glory so doth range. 
The winds resound your worth, 

the rocks record your name : 
These hills, these dales, these woods, these waves, 

these fields pronounce your fame. 
And we which dwell abroad 

can hear none other news, 
But tidings of an English Queen, 

whom heaven hath deck'd with hues. 
Yea, since I first was born, 

I never joy'd so much : 
As when I might behold your face, 

because I see none such. 
And death or dreary dole 

(I know) will end my days, 
As soon as you shall once depart, 

or wish to go your ways. 
But, comely peerless Prince, 

since my desires be great : 
Walk here sometimes in pleasant shade, 

to 'fend the parching heat. 



KENILWORTH. 21 

On Thursday next (think I) 

here will be pleasant Dames : 
Who bet than I may make you glee, 

with sundry gladsome games. 
Meanwhile (good Queen) farewell, 

the gods your life prolong : 
And take in worth the Wild-Man's words, 

or else you do him wrong. 

Then he bad Echo farewell, thus : — 

Echo likewise farewell, 

let me go seek some death, 
Since I may see this Queen no more, 

good grief now stop my breath. 

These verses were devised, penned, and pro- 
nounced by Master Gascoyne : and that (as I 
have heard credibly reported) upon a very great 
sudden. 

The next thing that was presented before her 
Majesty, was the delivery of the Lady of the 
Lake : whereof the sum was this. Triton in 
likeness of a mermaid, came toward the 



22 KENILWOltTH. 

Queen's Majesty as she passed over the bridge, 
returning from hunting. And to her declared 
that Neptune had sent him to her Highness, to 
declare the woeful distress wherein the poor 
Lady of the Lake did remain, the cause whereof 
was this. Sir Bruce sans pitie, in revenge of 
his cousin Merlin the Prophet, (whom for his 
inordinate lust she had inclosed in a rock) did 
continually pursue the Lady of the Lake : and 
had (long since) surprised her, but that Neptune 
(pitying her distress) had environed her with 
waves. Whereupon she was enforced to live 
always in that Pool, and was thereby called 
the Lady of the Lake. Furthermore affirming 
that by Merlin's prophecy, it seemed she could 
never be delivered but by the presence of a 
better maid than herself. Wherefore Neptune 
had- sent him right humbly to beseech her 
Majesty that she would no more but shew her- 
self, and it should be sufficient to make Sir 
Bruce withdraw his forces. Furthermore, com- 
manding both the waves to be calm, and the 
fishes to give their attendance: And this he 
expressed in verse as followeth : — 



KENILWORTH. 23 

The Speech of Triton to the Queen's Majesty. 

Muse not at all, most mighty Prince, 

though on this lake you see 
Me, Triton, float, that in salt seas 

among the gods should be. 
For look what Neptune doth command, 

of Triton is obey'd : 
And now in charge I am to guide 

your poor distressed maid ; 
Who, when your Highness hither came, 

did humbly yield her Lake ; 
And to attend upon your Court, 

did loyal promise make. 
But parting hence that ireful knight, 

Sir Bruce had her in chace : 
And sought by force, her virgin's state, 

full foully to deface. 
Yea, yet at hand about these banks, 

his bands be often seen : 
That neither can she come nor 'scape, 

but by your help, O Queen ; 
For though that Neptune has so fenc'd 

with floods her fortress long, 
Yet Mars her foe must needs prevail, 

his batteries are so strong. 



24 KEN1LW0RTH. 

How then can Dian, Juno's force, 

and sharp assaults abide ? 
When all the crew of chiefest gods 

is bent on Bruce's side. 
Yea, oracle and prophecy, 

say sure she cannot stand, 
Except a worthier maid than she 

her cause do take in hand. 
Lo, here therefore a worthy work, 

most fit for you alone ; 
Her to defend and set at large 

(but you, O Queen) can none : 
And gods decree and Neptune sues, 

this grant, O peerless Prince : 
Your presence only shall suffice, 

her enemies to convince. 

Herewith Triton sounded his trumpet and 
spoke to the winds, waters, and fishes, as 
followeth : 

You winds return into your caves, 

and silent there remain : 
You waters wild suppress your waves, 
and keep you calm and plain. 



KENILWORTH. 25 

You fishes all, and each thing else, 

that here have any sway ; 
I charge you all in Neptune's name, 

you keep you at a stay. 
Until such time this puissant Prince 

Sir Bruce hath put to flight : 
And that the maid released be, 

by sovereign maiden's might. 

This speech being ended, her Majesty pro- 
ceeded further on the bridge, and the Lady 
of the Lake (attended with her two nymphs) 
came to her upon heaps of bulrushes, ac- 
cording to this former device : and spake as 
followeth : — 

What worthy thanks might I, poor maid, express, 
Or think in heart, that is not justly due 

To thee (O Queen) which in my great distress 
Succours hast sent mine enemies to subdue ? 

Not mine alone, but foe to ladies all, 

That tyrant Bruce sans pitie, whom we call. 

Until this day, the lake was never free 

From his assaults, and other of his knights : 

E 



26 KENILWORTH. 

Until such time as he did plainly see 

Thy presence dread, and feared of all wights : 
Which made him yield, and all his bragging bands, 
Resigning all into thy Princely hands. 

For which great grace of liberty obtain'd, 
Not only I, but nymphs, and sisters all, 

Of this large lake, with humble heart unfeign'd 
Render thee thanks, and honour thee withal. 

And for plain proof, how much we do rejoice, 

Express the same, with tongue, with sound, and voice. 

From thence her Majesty passing yet further 
on the bridge, Proteus appeared, sitting on a 
dolphin's back. The dolphin was conveyed 
upon a boat, so that the oars seemed to be 
his fins. Within which dolphin a concert of 
music was secretly placed, which sounded, 
and Proteus clearing his voice, sang this song 
of congratulation, as well in the behalf of the 
Lady distressed, as also in the behalf of all 
the nymphs and gods of the sea. 



KENILWORTH. 27 

The Song of Proteus. 

O Noble Queen, give ear 

to this my floating muse : 
And let the right of ready will 

my little skill excuse. 
For herdmen of the seas 

sing not the sweetest notes : 
The winds and waves do roar and cry 

where Phoebus seldom floats : 
Yet since I do my best, 

in thankful wise to sing ; 
Vouchsafe (good Queen) that calm consent 

these words to you may bring : 
We yield you humble thanks, 

in mighty Neptune's name, 
Both for ourselves and therewithal 

for yonder seemly Dame. 
A Dame, whom none but you 

deliver could from thrall : 
No, none but you deliver us 

from loitering life withal. 
She pined long in pain, 

as overworn with woes : 



28 KENILWORTH. 

And we consum'd in endless care, 

to 'fend her from her foes. 
Both which you set at large, 

most like a faithful friend ; 
Your noble name be prais'd therefore, 

and so my song I end. 

This song being ended, Proteus told the 
Queen's Majesty a pleasant tale of his delivery, 
and the fishes which he had in charge. The de- 
vice of the Lady of the Lake was also by Master 
Hunnis : and surely if it had been executed 
according to the first invention, it had been 
a gallant shew : for it was first devised, that 
(two days before the Lady of the Lake's deli- 
very) a captain with twenty or thirty shot 
should have been sent from the heron house 
(which represented the Lady of the Lake's 
Castle) upon heaps of bulrushes : and that 
Sir Bruce, shewing a great power upon the land, 
should have sent out as many or more shot to 
surprise the said Captain, and so they should 
have skirmished upon the waters in such sort, 



KEN1LW0RTH. 29 

that no man could perceive but that they went 
upon the waves : at last {Sir Bruce's men being 
put to flight) the Captain should have come to 
her Majesty at the castle window, and have 
declared more plainly the distress of his mis- 
tress, and the cause that she came not to the 
court according to duty and promise, to give 
her attendance : and that thereupon he should 
have besought her Majesty to succour his mis- 
tress : the rather because Merlin had pro- 
phesied that she should never be delivered 
but by the presence of a better maid than her- 
self. This had not only been a more apt 
introduction to her delivery, but also the skir- 
mish by night would have been both very 
strange and gallant : and thereupon her Ma- 
jesty might have taken good occasion to have 
gone in her barge upon the water, for the better 
executing of her delivery. The verses, as I 
think, were penned, some by Master Hunnis, 
some by Master Ferrers, and some by Master 
Goldingham. 

And now you have as much as I could re- 
cover hitherto of the devices executed there ; 



30 KENILWORTH. 

the Coventry shew excepted, and the merry 
marriage # : the which were so plain as needeth 
no further explication. To proceed then, there 
was prepared a shew to have been presented 
before her Majesty in the forest; 

The argument whereof was this : 
Diana passing in chase with her nymphs, 
took knowledge of the country, and thereby 
called to mind how (near seventeen years past) 
she lost in those coasts one of her best beloved 
nymphs, called Zabeta. She described the 
rare virtues of Zabeta. One of her nymphs 
confirmed the remembrance thereof, and 
seemed to doubt that Dame Juno had won 
Zabeta to be a follower of hers : Diana con- 
firmed the suspicion ; but yet affirming herself 
much in Zabeta's constancy, gave charge to 
her nymphs, that they diligently hearken and 
espy in all places to find or hear news of Za- 
beta : and so passed on. 

* All the circumstances respecting the Coventry shew, 
and the merry marriage, here noticed, are particularly 
described in the recent publication of Laneham's Letter. 



KENILWORTH. 31 

To entertain intervallum temporis, a man 
clad all in moss came in lamenting, and de- 
clared that he was the wild man's son, which 
(not long before) had presented himself before 
her Majesty ; and that his father (upon such 
words as her Highness did then use unto him) 
lay languishing like a blind man, until it 
might please her Highness to take the film 
from his eyes. 

The nymphs return one after another in quest 
of Zabeta ; at last Diana herself returning, and 
hearing no news of her, invoketh the help of 
her father Jupiter. Mercury cometh down in 
a cloud, sent by Jupiter, to recomfort Diana, 
and bringeth her unto Zabeta. Diana rejoiceth, 
and after much friendly discourse departeth : 
affying herself in Zabeta' s prudence and po- 
licy : She and Mercury being departed, Iris 
cometh down from the rainbow sent by Juno : 
persuading the Queen's Majesty that she be 
not carried away with Mercury's filed speech, 
nor Diana's fair words ; but that she consider 
all things by proof, and then she shall find 
much greater cause to follow Juno than Diana. 



32 KENILWORTH. 

The Interlocutors were these : 

Diana: Goddess of Chastity. 

Castibula, Anamale, Nit talis : Diana's nymphs. 

Mercury : Jove's messenger. 

Iris : Juno's messenger. 

Audax : the son of Silvester. 

ACTUS 1. SCENA 1. 

Diana. Castibula. 

Mine own dear nymphs, which 'knowledge me your 
Queen, 

And vow (like me) to live in chastity ; 
My lovely nymphs (which be as I have been) 

Delightful Dames, and gems of jollity : 
Rejoicing yet (much more) to drive your days 

In life at large, that yieldeth calm content, 
Than wilfully to tread the wayward ways 

Of wedded state, which is to thraldom bent. 
I need not now, with curious speech persuade 

Your chaste consents, in constant vow to stand ; 
But yet beware lest Cupid's knights invade, 

By slight, by force, by mouth, or mighty hand, 



KENILWORTH. 33 

The stately tower of your unspotted minds : 

Beware (I say) least while we walk these woods, 
In pleasant chase of swiftest harts and hinds, 

Some harmful heart entrap your harmless moods : 
You know these holts, these hills, these covert places, 

May close convey some hidden force unseen : 
You see likewise, the sundry gladsome graces, 

Which in this soil we joyfully have seen, 
Are not unlike some court to keep at hand : 

Where guileful tongues, with sweet enticing tales, 
Might (Circe like) set all your ships on sand : 

And turn your present bliss to after bales. 
In sweetest flowers the subtle snakes may lurk : 

The sugar 'd bait oft hides the harmful hooks ; 
The smoothest words draw wills to wicked work 

And deep deceits do follow fairest looks. 

Hereat pausing, and looking about her, 
she took knowledge of the coast, and 
proceeded : 
But what ? alas ! oh whither wander we 1 

What chase hath led us thus into this coast ? 
By sundry signs I now perceive we be 

In Brutus' land, whereof he made such boast, 
Which Albion in olden days did hight, 

An4 Britain next by Brute his noble name : 

F 



34 KENILWORTH. 

Then Hengist's land as chronicles do write : 

Now England short, a land of worthy fame. 
Alas, behold how memory breeds moan : 

Behold and see, how sight brings sorrow in, 
My restless thoughts have made me woe begone ; 

My gazing eyes did all this grief begin. 
Believe me (nymphs) I feel great grips of grief, 

Which bruise my breast, to think how here I lost 
(Now long ago) a love to me most lefe. 

Content you all : her whom I loved most : 
You cannot choose but call unto your mind 

Zabeta's name, who twenty years or more 
Did follow me, still scorning Cupid's kind, 

And vowing so to serve me evermore : 
You cannot choose but bear in memory, 

Zabeta, her, whose excellence was such, 
In all respect of every quality, 

As gods themselves those gifts in her did grudge. 
My sister first, which Pallas hath to name, 

Envied Zabeta for her learned brain. 
My sister Venus fear'd Zabeta's fame, 

Whose gleams of grace, her beauties blaze did 
stain; 
Apollo dread to touch an instrument, 

Where my Zabeta chanc'd to come in place : 



KENILWORTH. 35 

Yea Mercury was not so eloquent, 

Nor in his words had half so good a grace. 
My step-dame, Juno, in her glittering guise, 

Was nothing like so heavenly to behold ; 
Short tale to make, Zabeta was the wight, 

On whom to think my heart now waxeth cold. 
" The fearful bird oft lets her food downfall, 

" Which finds her nest despoiled of her young ;" 
Much like myself, whose mind such moans appal, 

To see this soil, and therewithal among, 
To think how now near seventeen years ago, 

By great mishap I chanc'd to lose her here : 
But, my dear nymphs, (on hunting as you go) 

Look narrowly : and hearken every where : 
It cannot be, that such a star as she 

Can lose her light for any low'ring cloud : 
It cannot be, that such a saint to see 

Can long inshrine her seemly self so shroud. 
I promise here, that she which first can bring 

The joyful news of my Zabeta* s life, 
Shall never break her bow, nor fret her string. 

I promise eke, that never storm of strife 
Shall trouble her. Now nymphs look well about : 
Some happy eye, spy my Zabeta out. 



36 KENILWORTH, 

Castibula. 

O heavenly Dame, thy woeful words have pierc'd 

The very depth of my forgetful mind : 
And by the tale which thou hast here rehears'd, 

I yet record those heavenly gifts which shined 
Triumphantly in bright Zabeta's deeds : 

But therewithal, a spark of jealousy, 
With nice conceit, my mind thus far-forth feeds ; 

That she which always liked liberty, 
And could not bow to bear the servile yoke, 

Of false suspect, which mars these lovers marts, 
Was never won to like that smould'ring smoke, 

Without some feat, that passeth common arts. 
I dread Dame Juno, with some gorgeous gift, 

Hath laid some snare her fancy to entrap, 
And hopeth so her lofty mind to lift 

On Hymen's bed, by height of worldly hap. 

Diana. 

My loving nymph, even so fear I likewise, 
And yet to speak as truth and cause requires, 

I never saw Zabeta use the guise, 
Which gave suspect of such unchaste desires. 

Full twenty years I marked still her mind, 
Nor could I see that any spark of lust 



KEN1LW0RTH. 37 

A loitering lodge within her breast could find. 

How so it be (dear nymphs) in you I trust : 

To hark, and mark, what might of her betide: 

And what mishap withholds her thus from me. 
High Jove himself my lucky steps so guide, 
That I may once mine own Zabeta see. 

Diana with her nymphs proceed in chase: 
and, to entertain time, cometh in one 
clad in moss, saying asfolloweth : 

ACTUS 1. SCENA 2. 

AUDAX SOluS. 

If ever pity pierc'd 

a peerless Princess's breast ; 
Or ruthful moan moved noble mind 

to grant a just request ; 
Then, worthy Queen, give ear 

unto my woeful tale : 
For needs that son must sob and sigh 

whose father bides in bale. 
O Queen, O stately Queen, 

I am that wild man's son, 
Which not long since before you here, 

presumed for to run. 



38 KENILWORTH. 

Who told you what he thought 

of all your virtues rare : 
And therefore ever since (and yet) 

he pines in woe and care. 
Alas, alas, good Queen, 

it were a cruel deed 
To punish him who speaks no more 

but what he thinks indeed. 
Especially when as 

all men with him consent, 
And seem with common voice to prove 

the pith of his intent. 
You heard what Echo said 

to every word he spake ; 
You hear the speech of Dian's nymphs, 

and what reports they make. 
And can your Highness then 

condemn him to be blind ? 
Or can you so with needless grief 

torment his harmless mind ? 
His eyes (good Queen) be great, 

so are they clear and grey : 
He never yet had pin or web, 

his sight for to decay. 



KENILWORTH. 39 

And sure the dames that dwell 

in woods abroad with us, 
Have thought his eyes of skill enough, 

their beauties to discuss. 
For proof your Majesty 

may now full plainly see : 
He did not only see you then, 

but more he did foresee. 
What after should betide, 

he told you that (ere long) 
You should find here bright heavenly dames 

would sing the selfsame song. 
And now you find it true, 

that he did then pronounce, 
Your praises peyze * by them a pound, 

which he weigh'd but an ounce. 
For sure he is nor blind, 

nor lame of any limb : 
But yet because you told him so, 

he doubts his eyes are dim. 
And I therefore (his son) 

your Highness here beseech, 

* Peyze — weigh. Fr. peser. 



40 KENILWORTH. 

To take in worth (as subjects due) 

my father's simple speech. 
And if you find some film, 

that seems to hide his eyes : 
Vouchsafe, good Queen, to take it off, 

in gracious wonted wise. 
He sighing lies and says, 

god put mine eyes out clean, 
Ere choice of change in England fall, 

to see another Queen. 

Finis Actus I. 



ACTUS 2. SCENA 1. 

Anamale sola. 

Would god I either had some Argus' eyes, 

Or such an ear as every tiding hears ; 
Oh that I could some subtilty devise, 

To hear or see what mould Zabeta bears, 
That so the mood of my Diana's mind 

Might rest (by me) contented or appeas'd 
And I likewise might so her favour find, 

Whom, goddess like, I wish to have well pleas'd. 






KENILWORTH. 41 

Some courteous wind come blow me happy news ; 

Some sweet bird sing and shew me where she is ; 
Some forest god, or some of Faunus' crew, 

Direct my feet if so they tread amiss. 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 2. 

Nicolis sola. 
If ever Echo sounded at request 

To satisfy an uncontented mind, 
Then Echo now come help me in my quest, 

And tell me where I might Zabeta find. 
Speak, Echo, speak, where dwells Zabeta, where ? 

Alas, alas, or she, or I am deaf. 
She answered not, ha ! what is that I hear ? 

Alas it was the shaking of some leaf. 
Well, since I hear not tidings in this place, 

I will go seek her out in some place else : 
And yet my mind divineth in this case, 

That she is here, or not far off she dwells. 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 3. 
Diana with her Train. 
No news, my nymphs ? well then I may well think, 
That carelessly you have of her enquired : 



42 KENILWORTH. 

And since from me in this distress you shrink, 
While I (meanwhile) my weary limbs have tired ; 

My father, Jove, vouchsafe to rue my grief, 
Since here on earth I call for help in vain: 

O, king of kings, send thou me some relief, 
That I may see Zabeta once again. 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 4. 
Mercury, Diana, and the Nymphs. 

O goddess, cease thy moan, 

thy plaints have pierc'd the skies, 
And Jove, thy friendly father, hath 

vouchsaf'd to hear thy cries. 
Yea more, he hath vouchsaf'd, 

in haste (post haste) to send 
Me down from heaven to heal thy harm, 

and all thy miss to mend. 
Zabeta, whom thou seek'st, 

(in heart) ev'n yet is thine, 
And passingly in wonted wise 

her virtues still do shine. 
But as thou dost suspect, 

Dame Juno train'd a trap, 



KENILWORTH. 43 

And many a day to win her will, 

hath lull'd her in her lap. 
For first these sixteen years 

she hath been daily seen, 
In richest realm that Europe hath, 

a comely crowned Queen. 
And Juno hath likewise 

suborned sundry kings, 
The richest and the bravest both 

that this our age forth brings : 
With other worthy wights, 

which sue to her for grace ; 
And cunningly, with quaint conceits, 
do plead the lover's case. 
Dame Juno gives her wealth, 

dame Juno gives her ease, 
Dame Juno gets her every good 

that woman's will may please. 
And so in joy and peace 

she holdeth happy days : 
Not as thou thought'st, nor done to death, 

or won to wicked ways. 
For though she find the skill 

a kingdom for to wield, 



44 KENILWORTH. 

Yet cannot Juno win her will, 

nor make her once to yield 
Unto the wedded life, 

but still she lives at large, 
And holds her neck from any yoke, 

without control of charge. 
Thus much it pleased Jove 

that I to thee should say, 
And furthermore, by words express, 

he bade I should not stay ; 
But bring thee to the place 

wherein Zabeta bides, 
To prop up so thy staggering mind, 

which in these sorrows slides. 
O goddess, then be blith, 

let comfort chase out grief, 
Thy heavenly father's will it is 

to lend thee such relief. 

Diana. 

O Noble Mercury, 

dost thou me then assure 
That I shall see Zabeta's face, 

and that she doth endure 



KENILWORTH. 45 

(Even yet) in constant vow 

of chaste unspotted life : 
And that my step-dame cannot yet 

make her a wedded wife ? 
If that be so indeed, 

Muses, help my voice, 
Whom grief and groans have made so hoarse, 

1 cannot well rejoice. 
O Muses, sound the praise 

of Jove, his mighty name ; 
And you, dear nymphs, which me attend, 
by duty do the same. 

Here Diana, with her nymphs, assisted by a 
concert of music unseen, should sing this song, 
or rondeau following : 

O Muses, now come help me to rejoice, 

Since Jove hath changed my grief to sudden joy ; 
And since the chance whereof I craved choice, 
Is granted me to comfort mine annoy : 

O praise the name of Jov e, who promised plain 
That I shall see Zabeta once again. 



46 KENILWORTH. 

O gods of woods, and goddess Flora eke, 

Now clear your breasts and bear a part with me : 
My jewel she, for whom I wont to seek, 
Is yet full safe, and soon I shall her see. 

O praise the name of Jove, who promised plain 
That I shall see Zabeta once again. 

And you, dear nymphs, who know what cruel care 

I bare in breast since she from me did part, 
May well conceive what pleasures I prepare, 
And how great joys I harbour in my heart. 

Then praise the name of Jove, who promised 

plain 
That I shall see Zabeta once again. 

Mercury. 

Come, goddess, come with me, 

thy leisures last too long ; 
For now thou shalt her here behold, 

for whom thou sing'st this song. 
Behold where here she sits, 

whom thou so long hast sought : 
Embrace her since she is to thee 

a jewel dearly bought. 



KEN1LWORTH. 47 

And I will now return 

to God in heaven on high : 
Who grant you both always to please 

his heavenly Majesty. 

Mercury depart eth to heaven. 

What, do I dream ? or doth my mind but muse 1 

Is this my leefe, my love, and my delight ? 
Or did this god my longing mind abuse, 

To feed my fancy with a feigned sight? 
Is this Zabeta, is it she indeed ? 

It is she sure : Zabeta mine, all hail ! 
And though dame Fortune seemeth you to feed 

With princely port, which serves for your avail, 
Yet give me leave to gaze you in the face, 

Since now (long since) myself, yourself did seek, 
And be content, for all your stately grace, 

Still to remain a maiden always meek. 
Zabeta mine (now Queen of high renown), 

You know how well I loved you always ; 
And long before you did achieve this crown, 

You know how well you seem'd to like my ways : 
Since when, you (won by Jvno's gorgeous gifts) 

Have left my lawns and closely kept in court ; 



48 KENILWORTH. 

Since when, delight and pleasure's gallant shifts 

Have fed your mind with many a princely sport. 
But, peerless Queen, (sometime my peerless maid) 

And yet the same as Mercury doth tell, 
Had you but known how much I was dismay'd 

When first you did forsake with me to dwell ; 
Had you but felt what privy pangs I had, 

Because I could not find you forth again, 
I know full well yourself would have been sad, 

To put me so to proof of pinching pain. 
Well, since Dan Jove (my father) me assures, 

That, notwithstanding all my step-dame's wiles, 
Your maiden's mind yet constant still endures, 

Though well content a Queen to be therewhiles ; 
And since by prudence and by policy, 

You win from Juno so much worldly wealth, 
And since the pillar of your chastity 

Still standeth fast, as Mercury me tell'th, 
I joy with you, and leave it to your choice 

What kind of life you best shall like to hold ; 
And in meanwhile I cannot but rejoice 

To see you thus bedeck'd with glistering gold ; 
To see you have this train of stately dames, 

Of whom each one may seem some goddess peer, 



KENILWORTH. 49 

And you yourself (by due desert of fame) 
A goddess full, and so I leave you here, 

It shall suffice that on your faith I trust ; 
It shall suffice that once I have you seen : 

Farewell ; not as I would, but as I must, 

Farewell, my nymph, farewell, my noble Queen. 
Diana with her Train depart eth. 

ACTUS 2. ' SCENA ultima. 
Iris sola. 

Oh lo, I come too late, 

oh, why had I no wings ? 
To help my willing feet, which fet 

these hasty frisking flings ; 
Alas, I come too late, 

that babbling god is gone : 
And Dame Diana fled likewise, 

here stands the Queen alone. 
Well, since a bootless plaint 

but little would prevail, 
I will go tell the Queen my tale : 

O, peerless Prince, all hail, 
The Queen of heaven herself 

did send me to control 
H 



50 KENILWORTH. 

That tattling traitor, Mercury, 

who hopes to get the goal, 
By curious filed speech, 

abusing you by art : 
But, Queen, had I come soon enough, 

he should have felt the smart. 
And you, whose wit excels, 

whose judgment hath no peer, 
Bear not in mind those flattering words 

which he expressed here. 
You know that in his tongue 

consists his chiefest might ; 
You know his eloquence can serve 

to make the crow seem white. 
But come to deeds indeed, 

and then you shall perceive 
Which goddess means you greatest good, 

and which would you deceive. 
Call you to mind the time 

in which you did insue * 
Diana's chase, and were not yet 

a guest of Juno's crew. 

* Insue — -follow. 



KENILWORTH. 51 

Remember all your life 

before you were a Queen : 
And then compare it with the days 

which you since then have seen. 
Were you not captive caught ? 

were you not kept in walls ? 
Were you not forc'd to lead a life 

like other wretched thralls ? 
Where was Diana then ? 

why did she you not aid ? 
Why did she not defend your state 

which were and are her maid ? 
Who brought you out of briers ? 

who gave you rule of realms? 
Who crowned first your comely head 

with princely diadems? 
Even Juno, she which mean'd, 

and yet doth mean likewise, 
To give you more than will can wish, 

or wit can well devise. 
Wherefore, good Queen, forget 

Diana's 'ticing tale : 
Let never needless dread presume 

to bring your bliss to bale. 



52 KENILWORTH. 

How necessary were 

for worthy Queens to wed, 
That know you well, whose life always 
in learning hath been led. 
The country craves consent, 

your virtues vaunt each self, 
And Jove in heaven would smile to see 

Diana set on shelf. 
His Queen hath sworn (but you) 

there shall no more be such : 
You know she lies with Jove a-nights, 

and night-ravens may do much. 
Then give consent, O Queen, 

to Juno's just desire, 
Who for your wealth would have you wed, 

and, for your farther hire, 
Some Empress will you make, 

she bade me tell you thus : 
Forgive me (Queen), the words are her's, 

I come not to discuss : 
I am but messenger, 

but sure she bade me say, 
That where you now in princely port 

have past one pleasant day : 



KENILWORTH. 53 

A world of wealth at will 

you henceforth shall enjoy 
In wedded state, and therewithal 

hold up from great annoy 
The staff of your estate : 

O Queen, O worthy Queen, 
Yet never wight felt perfect bliss, 

but such as wedded been. 

Tarn Marti, quam Mercurio. 

This shew was devised and penned by Mas- 
ter Gascoigne, and being prepared and ready 
(every Actor in his garment) two or three days 
together, yet never came to execution. The 
cause whereof I cannot attribute to any other 
thing, then to lack of opportunity and season- 
able weather. 

The Queen's Majesty hastening her departure 
from thence, the Earl commanded Master 
Gascoigne to devise some farewell worth the 
presenting ; whereupon he himself clad like 
unto Sylvanus, god of the woods, and meeting 
her as she went on hunting, spake (ex tempore) 
as followeth: 



54 KENILWORTH. 

Right excellent, puissant, and most happy 
Princess, whiles I walk in these woods and 
wilderness (whereof I have the charge) I have 
often mused with myself, that your Majesty 
being so highly esteemed, so entirely beloved, 
and so largely endued by the celestial powers : 
you can yet continually give ear to the counsel 
of these terrestrial companions ; and so, con- 
sequently, pass your time wheresoever they 
devise or determine that it is meet for your 
Royal Person to be resident. Surely if your 
Highness did understand (as it is not to me 
unknown) what pleasures have been for you 
prepared, what great good will declared, what 
joy and comfort conceived in your presence, and 
what sorrow and grief sustained by likelihood 
of your absence, yea, (and that by the whole 
bench in heaven) since you first arrived in these 
coasts, I think it would be sufficient to draw 
your resolute determination for ever to abide 
in this country, and never to wander any further 
by the direction and advice of these Peers and 
Counsellors ; since thereby the heavens might 
greatly be pleased, and most men thoroughly 



KENILWORTH. 55 

recomforted. But, because I rather wish the 
increase of your delights, than any way to di- 
minish the heap of your contentment, I will 
not presume to stay your hunting for the hear- 
ing of my needless, thriftless, and bootless 
discourse ; but I do humbly beseech that your 
excellency will give me leave to attend you as 
one of your footmen, wherein I undertake to 
do you double service ; for I will not only 
conduct your Majesty in safety from the peril- 
ous passages which are in these woods and 
forests, but will also recount unto you (if your 
Majesty vouchsafe to hearken thereunto) cer- 
tain adventures, neither unpleasant to hear, 
nor unprofitable to be marked. 

Herewith her Majesty proceeded, and Sylvanus 
continued as followeth : 

There are not yet twenty days past (most 
noble Queen) since I have been, by the Pro- 
curor-General, twice severally summoned to 
appear before the great gods in their Council- 
chamber ; and making mine appearance accord- 
ing to my duty, I have seen in heaven two 
such exceeding great contrarieties, or rather 



56 KENILWORTH. 

two such wonderful changes as draw me into 
deep admiration and sudden perplexity. At 
my first coming I found the whole company of 
heaven in such a jollity, as I rather want skill 
to express it lively, than will to declare it 
readily. There was nothing in any corner to 
be seen, but rejoicing and mirth, singing, danc- 
ing, melody and harmony, amiable regards, 
plentiful rewards, tokens of love, and great 
good will, trophies and triumphs, gifts and 
presents, (alas, my breath and memory fail me) 
leaping, frisking, and clapping of hands. 

To conclude, there was the greatest feast and 
joy that ever eye saw, or ear heard tell of, 
since heaven was heaven, and the earth began 
to have his being. And enquiring the cause 
thereof, Reason, one of the heavenly Ushers, told 
me, that it was to congratulate the coming of 
your most excellent Majesty into this country. 
In very deed to confess a truth, I might have 
perceived no less by sundry manifest tokens 
here on earth ; for even here in my charge, I 
might see the trees flourish in more then or- 
dinary bravery, the grass grow greener than it 



KENILWORTH. 57 

was wont to do, and the deer went tripping 
(though against their death) in extreme deli- 
cacy and delight. Well, to speak of that I saw 
in heaven, every god and goddess made all 
preparations possible to present your Majesty 
with some acceptable gift, thereby to declare 
the exceeding joy which they conceived in your 
presence. And I, poor rural god, which am 
but seldom called amongst them, and then also 
but slenderly countenanced, yet for my great 
good will towards your Majesty no way inferior 
to the proudest god of them all, came down 
again with a flea in mine ear, and began to beat 
my brains for some device of some present, 
which might both bewray the depth of mine 
affections, and also be worthy for so excellent 
a Princess to receive. But whiles I went so 
amusing with myself, many, yea, too many 
days, I found by due experience that this pro- 
verb was all too true, omnis mora trahit peri- 
culum. For whiles I studied to achieve the 
height of my desires ; behold, I was the second 
time summoned to appear in heaven. What 
said I ? Heaven? no, no, most comely Queen, 
i 



58 KENILWORTH. 

for when I came there, heaven was not heaven, 
it was rather a very hell. There was nothing 
but weeping and wailing, crying and howling, 
dole, desperation, mourning, and moan. All 
which I perceived also here on earth before I 
went up, for of a truth (most noble Princess) 
not only the skies scowled, the winds raged, « 
the waves roared and tossed, but also the fishes 
in the waters turned up their bellies, the deer in 
the woods went drooping, the grass was weary 
of growing, the trees shook off their leaves, 
and all the beasts of the forest stood amazed. 

The which sudden change I plainly perceived 
to be, for that they understood above, that your 
Majesty would shortly (and too speedily) de- 
part out of this country, wherein the heavens 
have happily placed you, and the whole earth 
earnestly desireth to keep you. Surely (Gra- 
cious Queen) I suppose that this late alteration 
in the skies hath seemed unto your judgment 
drops of rain in accustomed manner. But, if 
your Highness will believe me, it was nothing 
else but the very flowing tears of the gods, who 
melted into moan for your hasty departure. 



KEN1LWORTH. 59 

Well, because we rural gods are bound pa- 
tiently to abide the censure of the celestial 
bench, I thought meet to hearken what they 
would determine, and for a final conclusion it 
was generally determined, that some convenient 
messenger should be dispatched with all ex- 
pedition possible, as well to beseech your Ma- 
jesty that you would here remain, as also 
further to present you with the proffer of any 
such commodities and delights, as might draw 
your full consent to continue here for their 
contentation, and the general comfort of men. 

Here her Majesty stayed her horse to favour 
Sylvanus, fearing lest he should be driven out 
of breath by following her horse so fast. But 
Sylvanus humbly besought her Highness to go 
on, declaring that if his rude speech did not 
offend her, he could continue this tale to be 
twenty miles long. And therewithal protested 
that he had rather be her Majesty's footman on 
earth, than a god on horseback in heaven, pro- 
ceeding as followeth : 

Now to return to my purpose (most excellent 
Queen) when I had heard their deliberation, 



60 KENILWORTH. 

and called unto mind that sundry realms and 
provinces had come to utter subversion by 
over great trust given to Ambassadors, I (being 
thoroughly tickled with a restless desire) 
thought good to plead in person; for I will 
tell your Majesty one strange property that I 
have, there are few or none which know my 
mind so Well as myself, neither are there many 
which can tell mine own tale better than I my- 
self can do. And therefore I have continually 
awaited these three days, to espy when your 
Majesty would (in accustomed manner) come 
on hunting this way. 

And being now arrived most happily into the 
port of my desires, I will presume to beseech 
most humbly, and to entreat most earnestly, 
that your Highness have good regard to the 
general desire of the gods, together with the 
humble petitions of your most loyal and deeply 
affectionate servants. 

And for my poor part, in full token of my du- 
tiful meaning, I here present you the store of my 
charge, undertaking that the deer shall be daily 
doubled for your delight in chase. Further- 



KENILWORTH. 61 

more I will entreat Dame Flora to make it 
continually spring here with stores of redolent 
and fragrant flowers. Ceres shall be com- 
pelled to yield your majesty competent pro- 
vision, and Bacchus shall be sued unto for the 
first fruits of his vineyards. To be short, O 
peerless Princess, you shall have all things 
that may possibly be gotten for the furtherance 
of your delights. And I shall be most glad 
and triumphant, if I may place my godhead 
in your service perpetually. This tedious tale, 

comely Queen, I began with a bashful bold- 
ness, I have continued in base eloquence, and 

1 cannot better knit it up, than with homely 
humility, referring the consideration of these 
my simple words, unto the deep discretion of 
your Princely will. And now I will, by your 
Majesty's leave, turn my discourse into the 
rehearsal of strange and pitiful adventures. 

So it is, good gracious Lady, that Diana 
passeth often-times through this forest with a 
stately train of gallant and beautiful nymphs. 

Amongst whom there is one surpassing all 
the rest for singular gifts and graces : some call 



62 KENILWORTH. 

her Zabeta, some other have named her Ahte- 
basile, some Completa, and some Complacida ; 
whatsoever her name be, I will stand upon it. 
But (as I have said) her rare gifts have drawn 
the most noble and worthy personages in the 
whole world to sue unto her for grace. 

All which she hath so rigorously repulsed, 
or rather (to speak plain English) so obstinately 
and cruelly rejected, that I sigh to think ef 
some of their mishaps. I allow and commend 
her justice towards some others, and yet the 
tears stand in mine eyes (yea and my tongue 
trembleth and faltereth in my mouth) when I 
begin to declare the distresses wherein some 
of them do presently remain. I could tell your 
Highness of sundry famous and worthy per- 
sons, whom she hath turned and converted into 
most monstrous shapes and proportions. As 
some into fishes, some others into fowls, and 
some into huge stony rocks and great moun- 
tains : but because divers of her most earnest 
and faithful followers (as also some sycophants) 
have been converted into sundry of these plants, 
whereof I have charge, I will shew unto your 



KENILWORTH. 63 

Majesty so many of them as are in sight 
in these places where you pass. 

Behold, gracious Lady, this old oak, the same 
was many years a faithful follower and trusty 
servant of her's, named Constancy, whom, when 
she could by none other means overthrow, 
considering that no change could creep into 
his thoughts, nor any trouble of passions and 
perplexities could turn his resolute mind, at 
length she caused him, as I say, to be con- 
verted into this oak, a strange and cruel meta- 
morphosis. But yet the heavens have thus 
far forth favoured and rewarded his long con- 
tinued service, that as in life he was unmov- 
able, even so now all the vehement blasts of 
the most raging winds cannot once move his 
rocky body from his rooted place and abiding. 
But to countervail this cruelty with a shew of 
justice, she converted his contrary, Incon- 
stancy, into yonder poplar, whose leaves move 
and shake with the least breath or blast. 

As also she dressed Vain Glory in his right 
colours, converting him into this ash-tree, 
which is the first of my plants that buddeth, 



64 KENILWORTH. 

and the first likewise that casteth leaf. For 
believe me, most excellent Princess, Vain 
Ghry may well begin hastily, but seldom con- 
tinueth long. 

Again she hath well requited that busy elf, 
Contention, whom she turned into this bramble- 
brier, the which, as your Majesty may well 
see, doth even yet catch and snatch at your 
garments, and every other thing that passeth by 
it. And as for that wicked wretch Ambition, 
she did by good right condemn him into this 
branch of ivy, the which can never climb on 
high, nor flourish without the help of some 
other plant or tree, and yet commonly what 
tree soever it riseth by, it never leaveth to wind 
about it, and straitly to enfold it, until it hath 
smowldered and killed it. And by your leave, 
good Queen, such is the unthankful nature of 
cankered ambitious minds, that commonly they 
malign them by whom they have risen, and 
never cease until they have brought them to 
confusion. Well, notwithstanding these ex- 
amples of justice, I will now rehearse unto 
your Majesty such a strange and cruel meta- 



KENILWORTH. 65 

morphosis as I think must needs move your 
noble mind unto compassion. There were two 
sworn brethren which long time served her, 
called Deep-desire and Due-desert, and al- 
though it be very hard to part these two in 
sunder, yet is it said that she did long since 
convert Due-desert into yonder same laurel- 
tree. The which may very well be so, con- 
sidering the etymology of his name, for we 
see that the laurel-branch is a token of triumph 
in all trophies, and given as a reward to all 
victors, a dignity for all degrees, consecrated 
and dedicated to Apollo and the Muses as a 
worthy flower, leaf, or branch, for their due 
deserts. Of him I will hold no longer discourse, 
because he was metamorphosed before my 
time; for your Majesty must understand that 
I have not long held this charge, neither do I 
mean long to continue in it; but rather most 
gladly to follow your Highness wheresoever 
you shall become. 

But to speak of Deep-desire, (that wretch 
of worthies, and yet the worthiest that ever 
was condemned to wretched estate,) he was 

K 



66 KENILWORTH. 

such an one as neither any delay could daunt 
him ; no disgrace could abate his passions ; no 
time could tire him; no water quench his 
flames ; nor death itself could amaze him with 
terror. 

And yet this strange star, this courteous 
cruel, and yet the crudest courteous that ever 
was, this Ahtebasile, Zabeta, or by what name 
soever it shall please your Majesty to remem- 
ber her, did never cease to use imprecation, 
invocation, conjuration, and means possible, 
until she had caused him to be turned into 
this holly-bush, and as he was in this life and 
world continually full of compunctions, so is 
he now furnished on every side with sharp 
pricking leaves, to prove the restless pricks of 
his privy thoughts. Marry, there are two 
kinds of holly, that is to say, he holly, and she 
holly. Now some will say, that she holly hath 
no pricks, but thereof I intermeddle not. 

At these words her Majesty came by a closer 
arbour, made all of holly ; and while Syhanus 
pointed to the same, the principal bush shaked. 
For therein were placed both strange music, 



KEN1LW0RTH. 67 

and one who was there appointed to represent 
Deep-desire. Syhanus, perceiving the bush to 
shake, continued thus : 

Behold, most gracious Queen, this holly- 
bush doth tremble at your presence, and there- 
fore I believe that Deep-desire hath gotten 
leave of the gods to speak unto your excellent 
Majesty in their behalf, for I myself was pre- 
sent in the council-chamber of heaven, when 
Desire was thought a meet messenger to be 
sent from that convocation unto your Majesty 
as ambassador; and give ear, good Queen, 
methinks I hear his voice. 

Herewith Deep-desire spake out of the 
holly-bush as followeth : 

Stay, stay your hasty steps, 

O Queen without compare ; 
And hear him talk, whose trusty tongue 

consumed is with care : 
I am that wretch Desire, 

whom neither death could daunt, 
Nor dole decay, nor dread delay, 

nor feigned cheer enchant. 



68 KENILWORTH. 

Whom neither care could quench, 

nor fancy force to change ; 
And therefore turn'd into this tree, 

which sight, percase, seems strange. 
But when the gods of heaven, 

and goddesses withall, 
Both gods of fields and forest gods, 

yea, satyrs, nymphs, and all, 
Determined a dole, 

by course of free consent : 
With wailing words and mourning notes, 

your parting to lament. 
Then thought they meet to choose 

me, silly wretch, Desire, 
To tell a tale that might bewray 

as much as they require. 
And hence proceeds, O Queen, 

that from this holly-tree 
Your learned ears may hear him speak, 

whom yet you cannot see, 
But, Queen, believe me now, 

although I do not swear ; 
Was never grief, as I could guess, 

Which set their hearts so near, 






KENILWORTH. 69 

As when they heard the news, 

that you, O royal Queen, 
Would part from hence ; and that to prove 

it may full well be seen. 
For mark what tears they shed 

these five days past and gone : 
It was no rain, of honesty, 

it was great floods of moan. 
As first Diana wept 

such brinish bitter tears ; 
That all her nymphs did doubt her death, 

her face the sign yet bears. 
Dame Flora fell on ground, 

and bruis'd her woeful breast : 
Yea, Pan did break his oaten pipes ; 

Silvanus and the rest, 
Which walk amid these woods, 

for grief did roar and cry ; 
And Jove, to shew what moan he made, 

with thund'ring crack'd the sky. 
O Queen, O worthy Queen, 

within these holts and hills, 
Were never heard such grievous groans, 

nor seen such woeful wills. 



70 KENILWORTH. 

But since they have decreed, 

that I poor wretch, Desire, 
In their behalf shall make their moan, 

and comfort thus require : 
Vouchsafe, O comely Queen, 

yet longer to remain ; 
Or still to dwell amongst us here : 

O Queen, command again 
This castle and the knight, 

which keeps the same for you ; 
These woods, these waves, these fowls, these fishes, 

these deer which are your due : 
Live here, good Queen, live here, 

you are amongst your friends : 
Their comfort comes when you approach, 

and when you part, it ends. 
What fruits this soil may serve, 

thereof you may be sure : 
Dame Ceres and Dame Flora both 

will with you still endure. 
Diana would be glad 

to meet you in the chase : 
Silvanus and the forest-gods 

would follow you apace. 






KENILWORTH. 71 

Yea, Pan would pipe his part, 

such dances as he can : 
Or else Apollo music make, 

and Mars would be your man. 
And to be short, as much 

as gods and men may do : 
So much your Highness here may find, 

with faith and favour too. 
But if your noble mind, 

resolved by decree, 
Be not content, by me Desire, 

persuaded for to be, 
Then bend your willing ears 

unto my willing note, 
And hear what song the gods themselves 

have taught me now by rote. 
Give ear, good gracious Queen, 

and so you shall perceive 
That gods in heaven, and men on earth, 

are loth such Queens to leave. 

Herewith the concert of music sounded, and 
Deep-desire sang this song : 



72 KENILWORTH. 

Come, Muses, come and help me to lament, 

Come, woods, come waves, come hills, come doleful 
dales, 
Since life and death are both against me bent, 
Come gods, come men, bear witness of my bales. 
O heavenly nymphs, come help my heavy heart, 
With sighs to see Dame Pleasure thus depart. 

If death or dole could daunt a deep desire, 

If privy pangs could counterpoise my plaint : 
If tract of time, a true intent could tire, 

Or cramps of care, a constant mind could taint : 
Oh then might I at will here live and serve ; 
Although my deeds did more delight deserve. 

But out, alas, no gripes of grief suffice 

To break in twain this harmless heart of mine, 
For though delight be banish'd from mine eyes, 
Yet lives Desire, whom pains can never pine. 
O strange effects ! I live which seem to die, 
Yet die to see my dear delight go by. 

Then farewell, sweet, for whom I taste such sour, 
Farewell, delight, for whom I dwell in dole : 



KENILWORTH. 73 

Free will, farewell, farewell my fancy's flower, 
Farewell, content, whom cruel cares control. 
Oh farewell life, delightful death, farewell, 
I die in heaven, yet live in darksome hell. 

This song being ended, the music ceased, and 
Sylvanus concluded thus : 

Most gracious Queen, as it should but evil 
have beseemed a God to be found fraudulent 
or deceitful in his speech : so have I neither 
recounted nor foretold any thing unto your 
Majesty, but that which you have now found 
true by experience, and because the case is 
very lamentable, in the conversion of Deep- 
desire, as also because they know that your 
Majesty is so highly favoured of the Gods, that 
they will not deny you any reasonable request. 
Therefore I do humbly crave in his behalf, 
that you would either be a suitor for him unto 
the heavenly powers, or else but only to give 
your gracious consent that he may be restored 
to his pristinate estate. Whereat your High- 
ness may be assured that heaven will smile, 
the earth will quake, men will clap their hands, 

L 



74 KENILWORTH. 

and I will always continue an humble be- 
seecher for the flourishing estate of your 
Royal Person. 

Whom God now and ever preserve, to his good 

pleasure and our great comfort. 

Amen. 

Tarn Marti, guam Mer curio. 



GLOSSARIAL 

AND 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 



Page 5. — M. Hunnis, Master of her Majesty's Chapel. 
The first edition of Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures 
reads " Master of the children in hir Majesty's chapel." 
Queen Elizabeth retained on her Royal establishment 
four sets of singing-boys ; which belonged to the Cathedral 
of St. Paul, the Abbey of Westminster, St. George's 
Chapel Windsor, and the Household Chapel. For the 
support and reinforcement of her musical bands, Eliza- 
beth, like the other English Sovereigns, issued out 
warrants for taking " up suche apt and meete children, 
as are fitt to be instructed and framed in the Art and 
Science of Musicke and Singing." Thomas Tusser, the 
well-known author of •' Five Hundreth Points of Good 
Husbandrye," was in his youth a choir-boy of St. Paul's. 
Nor is it astonishing, that although masses had ceased to 
be performed, the Queen should yet endeavour to pre- 
serve sacred melody in a high state of perfection ; since, 
according to Burney, she was herself greatly skilled in 
musical learning. " If her Majesty," says that eminent 
author, " was ever able to execute any of the pieces that 
are preserved in a MS. which goes under the name ox 
Queen Elizabeth's Virginal-book, she must have been 
a very great player: as some of these pieces which were 
composed by Tallis, Bird, Giles, Farnaby, Dr. Bull, and 
others, are so difficult that it would be hardly possible 
to find a master in Europe who would undertake to play 
any of them at the end of a month's practice." Burney's 
General History of Music, vol. III. p. 15. But the children 



76 

of the chapel were also employed in the theatrical exhi- 
bitions represented at Court, for which their musical 
education had peculiarly qualified them. Richard Ed- 
wards, an eminent poet and musician of the sixteenth 
century, had written two comedies, Damon and Pythias, 
and Palemon and Arcite, which, according to Wood, 
were often acted before the Queen, both at Court and at 
Oxford. With the latter of these Elizabeth was so 
much delighted, that she promised Edwards a reward, 
which she subsequently gave him by making him first 
Gentleman of her chapel, and in 156l, Master of the 
Children on the death of Richard Bowyer. As the Queen 
was particularly attached to dramatic entertainments, 
about 1569, she formed the children of the Royal Chapel 
into a company of theatrical performers, and placed them 
under the superintendance of Edwards. Not long after 
she formed a second society of players, under the title of 
the " Children of the Revels," and by these two com- 

Janies all Lilly's plays, and many of Shakspeare's and 
onson's were first performed. The latter of these 
authors has celebrated one of the chapel children, named 
Salathiel Pavy, who was famous for his performance of 
old men, but who died about 1601, under the age of 
thirteen, in a most beautiful epitaph printed with his 
epigrams. As this poem has a close analogy with the 
present note, the reader will be gratified by the following 
copy of it, only premising that Jonson might speak of 
his subject with greater fondness, as he acted in his own 
Masques of " Cynthia's Revels" and the " Poetaster." 

AN EPITAPH ON SALATHIEL PAVY, A CHILD OF QUEEN 
ELIZABETH'S CHAPEL. 

Weep with me all you that read 

This little story : 
And know, for whom a tear you shed 

Death's self is sorry : 
'Twas a child that so did thrive 

In grace and feature, 
As heaven and nature seem'd to strive 

Which own'd the creature. 



77 



Years he number'd scarce thirteen 

When fates turn'd cruel, 
Yet three fill'd Zodiacs had he been 

The stage's jewel ; 
And did act, what now we moan, 

Old men so duly, 
That the Parcae thought him one 

He play'd so truly. 
So, by error, to his fate 

They all consented ; 
But viewing him since, alas, too late ! 

They have repented ; 
And have sought, to give new birth, 

In baths to steep him ; 
But being much too good for earth, 

Heaven vows to keep him. 
Ben Jonsons Works, by Gifford, vol. viii. p. 22g. 

But however Jonson might think and write con- 
cerning young Pavy, the actors of the public theatres, 
such as the Globe, and the Fortune, looked enviously 
at the Queen's protected band of infantile performers j 
and the Puritans made their first essay at the overthrow 
of the drama by writing violently against them. A 
pamphlet which came from this source in 1569, called 
" The children of the chapel stript and whipt," remarks, 
that " plaies will never be supprest, while ner Maiesties 
unfledged minions flaunt it in silkes and sattens. They 
had as well be at their popish service in the devil's 
garments." But a certain number of the Children of the 
Revels was attached to each of the public theatres ; and 
these, though involved in the denunciations of the Puri- 
tans, were at least free from the hatred of the actors. 
Malone supposes, that it was against the choir-boys 
of St. Paul's that Shakspeare launched the following 
tirade in the 6th scene of the second act of Hamlet, 
where Rosencrantz and the Prince are conversing about 
the state of dramatic excellence. 

" Ros. There is, Sir, an aiery * of children, little eyassesf 
that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyranni- 

* Brood. f Nestlings. 



78 

cally clapt for't: these are now the fashion; and so 
be-rattle the common stages (so they call them) that 
many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare 
scarce come thither. 

" Ham. What, are they children ? who maintains them ? 
how are they escoted * ? will they pursue the quality no 
longer than they can sing ?" 

At length in 1583-4 the Theatre in the Convocation- 
house of St. Paul's was suppressed ; in consequence, says 
Flecknoe, of " people growing more precise, and playes 
more licentious." After this, both the children of the 
chapel and the children of the revels went over to the 
theatre in Blackfriars, and the choir-boys of St. Paul's 
were confined to perform in their own school-room. 

" It is believed/ ' say the Editors of Kenil worth Illus- 
trated, in a note upon the very passage now under con- 
sideration, " that Queen Elizabeth never attended a 
public theatre :" now, although there is probably no 
proof extant that she did, yet the following passage in 
one of her licences, certainly appears very like it. This 
is extracted from a privilege which she granted in 1574 
to James Burbage, and four other servants of the Earl of 
Leicester, to exhibit all kinds of Stage-plays, during 
pleasure, in any part of England, " as well for the re- 
creation of our loving subjects, as for our solace and 
pleasure when we shall think good to see them." 

Having thus given some account of the Children of 
her Majesty's Chapel, it remains to state a few memo- 
randa concerning William Hunnis, their Master, who is 
mentioned in the text. 

All who have written of him agree that he was a 
Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in the time of King 
Edward VI., in whose reign, in 1550, he published 
" Certayne Psalms chosen out of the Psalter of David, 
and drawen furth into English meter by William Hunnis, 
seruant to the right honorable Sir William Harberde, 
Knyght, newly collected and imprinted," 8vo. He 
continued in the chapel under Queen Mary ; and on 
the 15th of November, 1566, he was made Master of 



Paid. 



79 



the Children by Elizabeth, on the death of Richard 
Edwards *, already mentioned. On February the 14th, 
1568, probably by the command of the Queen, who 
often exerted her power in a similar manner, he received 
from Sir Gilbert Dethick, Garter King of Arms, the 
following armorial ensign for the name of Hunnis of 
Middlesex. " Bendy of six, Or and Azure, a Unicorn 
rampant Pert, armed Argent. Crest. On a wreath, be- 
tween two honeysuckles proper, a Unicorn's head couped, 
Or, charged with two bendlets Azure. In 1576, Hunnis 
next appeared as an author in the celebrated " Paradise 
of Daynty Deuices," for which he seems to have written 
twelve poems, including those which were printed in 
the subsequent editions. In 1578, he published his 
" Hyve full of Hunnye," in 4to. and 8vo. ; and in 1585, 
his " Seven Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne." 
This went through five editions; it consisted of the 
Seven Penitential Psalms, and a "■ Handfull of Honi- 
suckles :" it was last printed in 1621 at Edinburgh, 
12mo. As a poet, Mr. Haslewood, in his admirable 
account of the contributors to the " Paradise of Daynty 
Deuices," printed in the British Bibliographer, vol. iv. 

&xiv. gives him the following character : " Some of 
unmVs pieces are pretty at least; and discover such a 
simplicity of sentiment, ease of language, and flow of 
verse, as justly entitle them to commendation/' Warton, 
however, says of him, " his honeysuckles and his honey 
are now no longer delicious." According to the cheque- 
book of the Chapel Royal, William Hunnis died on the 
6th of June, 1597, and was succeeded in his office by 
Nathaniel, afterwards Dr. Giles. 

Page 5. — Six trumpeters hugely advanced. 
This serves to explain a passage in Laneham's Letter 
which has excited considerable doubt ; namely, that 



* Mr. Haslewood, in the preliminary notices of the 
contributors to the " Paradyse of Dainty Deuices," has in- 
serted an interesting memoir of Richard Edwards, who was 
considered as its principal collector, though he had been dead 
about ten years in 1576, when the first edition was published. 



80 

where he says, " these trumpeters being six in number, 
were every one eight feet long." see edit. 1821. 8vo. p. 10. 
It would appear that these were but figures constructed 
like all those used in ancient triumphs and pageants, of 
hoops, deal boards, pasteboard, paper, cloth, buckram, 
&c. which were gilded and coloured on the outside ; and 
within this case the real trumpeter was placed. An exhi- 
bition similar to that mentioned in the text, is related by 
Holingshed, to have taken place when Queen Mary pro- 
ceeded through London, before her Coronation, Sept. 30th, 
15.53. " At the upper end of Grace' s-street," says that 
minute chronicler, ** there was another pageant, made by 
the Florentines, verie high, on the top whereof there stood 
four pictures, and in the middest of them and most highest, 
there stood an angell all in greene, with a trumpet in his 
hand : and when the trumpetter (who stood secretlie in 
the pageant) did sound his trumpet, the angell did put his 
trumpet to his mouth, as though it had been the same 
that had sounded, to the great marvelling of many ignorant 
persons." Chronicles of Eng. 1586. fol. vol. III. p. 10Q1. 
Selden, in his " Table Talk," when speaking of Judges, 
alludes to such figures. " We see," says he, " the 
pageants in Cheapside, the lions, and the elephants, but 
we do not see the men that carry them." 

Page 6. — harrying. 
This word signifies an outcry or chasing, and is de- 
rived from the Norman French Haro or Harron, which 
was a hue-and-cry after felons and malefactors, vide 
Phillips, and Jacob's Law Dictionary. 

Page 6. — Garloil. 
Tumult or disorder, vide Phillips. 

Page 7- — The Lady of the Lake. 
Vide the tenth note to the recent reprint of Laneham's 
Letter, page 96. 

Page T.—fet. i. e. fetched. 
The preterite and participle past of the ancient verb 
active to Fet; viz. to fetch, to go and bring. This word 
is evidently taken from the Saxon Fertran, jretian, or 
peru^ian, which are all of the same signification as the 
former, vide Bailey, Somner. 



81 

Page 8. — Unto Lord Saintlowe's hands. 
The history of Kenilworth Castle and its various 
owners, is alluded to both in Laneham's Letter, page 5, 
and more particularly in the poem printed in the text. 

Notwithstanding the high antiquity which is assigned 
to Kenilworth, as well in the present verses as !>y Lane- 
ham, Sir William Dugdale says, that the land on which 
the Castle is situate was given by King Henry I. to a 
Norman, named Geoffry de Clinton, his Lord Chamber- 
lain and Treasurer, by whom the building was first 
erected. By this proprietor also, he states, the Monas- 
tery of Black Canons of St. Augustine's order, to have 
been instituted at the same time, near the fortress. In 
1172, the Castle was garrisoned by King Henry II., to 
withstand the unnatural insurrection of his eldest son 
Henry, who was assisted by Louis VII. King of France, 
and several of the English Barons. Although it is by 
no means certain that the building again reverted to the 
Clintons, yet early in the reign of John, Henry Clinton, 
the grandson of the founder, released to that King all his 
interest in the Castle and lands. The son of this last 
possessor, who also bore his father's name, engaged him- 
self in the wars of the tumultuous Barons during the 
reigns of John and Henry III.; but, in 1217, upon 
his submission to the latter Monarch, he had livery 
of his father's land at Kenilworth. This appears to 
have been the last of the Clintons who held this 
estate. The Castle had long been in the hands of the 
Crown, and was held for it, by the successive sheriffs for 
the counties of Warwick and Leicester. In 1243, 
Henry III. constituted Simon Montfort, Earl of Leicester, 
Governor of Kenilworth Castle ; and ten years afterwards 
granted it to him and his wife, Eleanora, for their lives. 
This haughty and ambitious Baron was Commander-in- 
chief of the insurrection against Henry III., concerning 
Magna Carta ; and soon after his receiving the grant of 
this Castle, himself and his comrades met in arms at 
Oxford. The conclusion of this convocation was, that 
they marched against the royal army, and Simon de 
Montfort was slam at the battle of Evesham, on August 
5th, 1265. It is to the warlike disposition and death 
M 



82 

of this Baron, that the Lady of the Lake alludes in her 
verses, where she says, 

" The Earl, Sir Mountford's force, gave me no heart." 

Kenilworth Castle in the interim, was defended bv Simon 
de Montfort, the younger, son of the late Earl ; and when 
the King's forces were besieging it, he, perceiving that 
it must shortly be surrendered, retired privately into 
France to raise more soldiers in aid of the Barons designs. 
In his absence Henry de Hastings was left Governor, 
whom he assured of a certain and early relief; but the 
King's reinforcements arriving first, after much doubt 
and delay, the Castle was yielded to Henry III. on the 
feast of St. Thomas, December the 21st, 1265. About 
the end of the siege, which lasted six months, and 
amounted to a very considerable sum, the King, by the 
advice of Ottobon, the Papal Legate, called a convention 
at Kenilworth, at which it was determined, that persons 
who had forfeited their lands in the late rebellion, might 
redeem them by a fine, to be paid to such as then pos- 
sessed them. Some exceptions were however made, 
which were, the wife and children of the late Earl of 
Leicester; Robert Ferrers, Earl of Derby; Henry de 
Hastings, mentioned above; and those who wounded 
the King's messenger, when he summoned Kenilworth 
Castle to surrender. On all these were imposed either 
heavier fines or imprisonment; and the act by which the 
foregoing particulars were declared, was called Dictum de 
Kenilworth, an entire copy of which may be found in some 
of the ancient statute-books, or in the " Statutes of the 
Realm," printed by command, 1820, vol.1, p. 12. Lane- 
ham also alludes to the Statute of Kenilworth in the fol- 
lowing passage of his Letter, p. 86. " A singular pattern 
of humanity may he be well unto us towards all degrees : of 
honour toward high estates, and chiefly whereby we may 
learn in what dignity, worship, and reverence, her Highness 
is to be esteemed, honoured, and received, that was never 
indeed more condignly done than here ; so, as neither by 
the builders at first, nor by the Edict of Pacification after, 
was ever Kenilworth more enobled than by this, his Lord- 



83 

ship's receiving her Highness here now." In the original 
edition of Laneham, is the following marginal note to 
this passage. " 1266. An. 50. Hen. III. " Immediately 
after the siege and surrender of the Castle, Philip Mar- 
mion, the first Lord of Scrivelsby and Tamworth, was 
made Constable by the King ; but, on the l6th of 
January, 1267, it was conferred with many privileges 
upon Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, second 
son of the King, and to his lawful heirs. In 12QJ3, Ed- 
mund died at Bayonne, and was succeeded by his eldest 
son Thomas ; in whose time Roger Mortimer held at 
Kenilworth the feast of the Round Table, mentioned in 
the text. This festival, acccording to Dugdale, took 
place in 1378, and he thus describes it: "The same 
year I find, that there was a great and famous concourse 
of noble persons here at Kenilworth, called the Round 
Table, consisting of an hundred knights, and as many 
ladies ; whereurito divers repaired from foreign parts for 
the exercise of arms, viz. tilting, and martial tourna- 
ments ; and the ladies, dancing ; who were clad in 
silken mantles, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, being 
the chief, and the occasion thereof. Which exercises 
began on the eve of St. Matthew the Apostle, (21st Sep- 
tember) and continued till the morrow after Michaelmas 
day," (30th.) Antiq. of Warwicksh. edit, by Dr. Thomas, 
1730. vol. 1. p. 247- Roger Mortimer appears to have 
been one of the most fashionable gallants of his time, 
and his son Geoffery named him, " The King of Folly." 
But Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, joined the baronial 
party against the favorites of King Edward II. ; namely, 
Pierce Gaveston, and the two Spencers ; and although the 
King once pardoned him, and restored his forfeited lands, 
yet in 1322, he was taken in arms at the battle of Bo- 
roughbridge, and a few days after was beheaded. Kenil- 
worth Castle was next delivered into the hands of John 
de Someri, Baron of Dudley; Ralph Lord Basset, of 
Drayton j and Ranulph de Charun, for the King's use; 
but when the fortunes of King Edward were overthrown, 
iris officers were expelled, and himself brought to the 
fortress as a prisoner in the power of Henry, brother of 
the laie • possessor, and others of his infamous fellow- 



86 

not built by Keimlphus, Kenelmus, or Kinegilsus, as 
some dream, but, as can be made to appear from records, 
by Galfridus Clinton, Chamberlain to King Henry I." 
Britannia, edit. 1789, vol. II. p. 329. The Lord Saint- 
lowe, who is mentioned in the text as having once been 
possessor of Kenilworth, was most probably one of the 
family of Saintloe, or Saintloo, who, about the time of 
Elizabeth, were Lords of the Manor of Tormarton, in 
the county of Gloucester. Sir William Saintloe was 
Captain of the Guard to the above Sovereign. 

Having thus given sufficient of a true History of Kenil- 
worth Castle, to be a perfect guide to the readers of the 
works of Gascoigne and Laneham, it remains to give 
some account of the buildings and grounds as given by 
those who saw them in all their original splendour. 
Dugdale commences with saying, that the situation is of 
extraordinary strength and largeness, as may be seen by 
the circuit, breadth, and depth of the outer moats, to- 
gether with the parts called Caesar's Tower, which, by 
the thickness of its walls and form of building, he con- 
siders to have been of the first foundation. In 1241, 
Henry III., to whom the Castle then belonged, made 
extensive improvements and repairs at Kenilworth ; such 
as ceiling the chapel with wainscot, painting it, and 
making new seats for the King and Queen. The bell- 
tower also was repaired, and the south walls next the 
pool were newly erected. The Queen's chamber was 
likewise enlarged and painted. In 1391, Richard II. 
furnished John of Gaunt with materials for improving 
and building at this place ; and he, according to Dugdale, 
" began the structure of all the buildings here, except 
Caesar's Tower, with the outer walls and turrets." But 
little, however, appears to have been done towards mak- 
ing the Castle splendid as a nobleman's seat, or a palace 
fit for the visit of a Queen, until Elizabeth, on the 9th 
of June, 1562, presented the building to the Earl of 
Leicester; who, Dugdale remarks, " spared for no cost 
in enlarging, adorning, and beautifying thereof; witness 
that magnificent gate-house towards the north ; where, 
formerly having been the back side of the Castle, he 
made the front; filling up a great proportion of the 



87 

wide and deep double ditch, wherein the water of the 
pool came. And, besides that stately piece on the 
south-east part, still bearing the name of Leicester's 
buildings, did he raise from the ground two goodly towers 
at the head of the pool, viz. — the Floud-gate, or Gallery 
tower, standing at one end of the Tilt-yard, in which 
was a spacious and noble room for ladies to see the ex- 
ercises of tilting and barriers ; and at the other, Morti- 
mer's tower, whereupon the arms of Mortimer were cut 
in stone ; which doubtless was so named by the Earl of 
Leicester, in memory of one more antient, that stood 
there formerly ; wherein, as I guess, either the Lord 
Mortimer, at the time of that great and solemn tilting, 
formerly mentioned, (vide page 83 ante.) did lodge ; or 
else, because Sir John Mortimer, Knight, prisoner here 
in Hen. V. time, was detained therein. The Chase he 
likewise enlarged, impaling part of Blakwell within it; 
and also a large nook, extending from Rudfen-lane 
towards the pool; which, being then a waste, wherein 
the inhabitants of Kenilworth had common*, in 
consideration thereof, he gave them all those fields 
called Prior's fields, lying north of the Castle. I have 
heard some, who were his servants, say, that the 
charge he bestowed on this Castle, with the parks and 
chase thereto belonging, was no less than sixty thou- 
sand pounds. Here, in July, an. 1575, (17 Eliz.) having 
completed all things for her reception, did he entertain the 
Queen for the space of xvii. days -f* , with excessive cost, 
and variety of delightful shews." Of the gardens made by 
Lord Leicester, Laneham gives a very particular account, 
vide the reprint of his Letter, p. 71. Leland makes but 
few observations on Kenilworth ; so that it is evident that 
at his visit, the Castle had none of those marks of magni- 
ficence with which it was afterwards adorned. " King 



* Vide the 49th note to the recent reprint of Laneham's 
Letter, p. 71. where will be found an extract from the Secret 
Memoirs of the Earl of Leicester, asserting that he enclosed 
these grounds by oppressive means, and not by exchange. 

+ Other authors say nineteen, and the expense of the festi- 
val has been estimated at 1000/. per diem. 



88 

Henry VIII." says he, u did of late years great cost in re- 
pa) re of the Castle of Killingworth. Amongst these re- 
parations the pretty Banketing-house of Tymbre, that 
stood thereby in the meere, and bore the name of plea- 
sant, was taken downe, and part of it is set up in the 
Base-court of Killingworth Castle. " Itinerary, vol. iv. 
p. 1Q] . The next notice which occurs in history con- 
cerning the appearance of Kenilworth, is the survey 
taken by the officers of King James I., on the contempt 
of Sir Robert Dudley, to the Royal Warrant of Privy 
Seal, sent after him to Italy, commanding his return. 
The following copy of remarks upon this survey, will 
give a more perfect idea of the splendour of the Castle 
than any other description can ; since it was taken when 
the buildings were in their most perfect state, as well as 
being more numerous and magnificent than at any other 
period of their history. 

" The Castle of Kenilworth, situate upon a rock. 

1. The circuit thereof within the walls containeth 
7 acres, upon which the walks are so spacious and fair, 
that two or three persons together may walk upon most 
places thereof. 

2. The Castle, with the 4 Gate-houses, all built of free- 
stone, hewen and cut j the walls, in many places, xv. and 
x. foot thickness, some more, and some less ; the least 
4 foot in thickness square. 

3. The Castle and 4 Gate-houses, all covered with lead, 
whereby it is subject to no other decay than the glass, 
through the extremity of the weather. 

4. The rooms of great state within the same ; and such 
as are able to receive his Majestie, the Queen, and Prince, 
at one time, built with as much uniformity and conveni- 
ency as any houses of later time ; and with such stately 
cellars, all carryed upon pillars, and architecture of free- 
stone, carved and wrought as the like are not within this 
kingdom ; and also all other houses for officers answer- 
able. 

5. There lieth about the same in Chases and Parks 
1200/. per ann. 900/. whereof are grounds for pleasure ; 
the rest in meadow and pasture thereto adjoyning, ten- 
ants, and freeholders. 



89 

6. There joineth upon this ground, a park-like ground, 
called this King's Wood, with xv. several copices lying 
all together, containing 789 acres, within the same : 
which, in the Earl of Leicester's time, were stored with 
red deer. Since which the deer strayed, but the ground in 
no sort blemished, having great store of timber, and other 
trees of much value upon the same. 

7. There runneth through the said grounds, by the 
walls of the Castle, a fair Pool, containing 111 acres, well 
stored with fish and fowl ; which at pleasure is to be let 
round about the Castle, 

8. In timber and woods upon this ground, to the value 
(as hath been offered) of 20,000/. (having a convenient 
time to remove them), which, to his Majestie in the 
survey, are but valued at 1 1,722/., which proportion, in 
a like measure, is held in all the rest upon the other 
values to his Majestie. 

9. The circuit of the Castle, Mannours, Parks, and 
chase lying round together, contain at least xix. or xx. 
miles, in a pleasant country ; the like, both for strength, 
state, and pleasure, not being within the realm of 
England. 

10. These lands have been surveyed by Commissioners 
from the King and the Lord Privy-seal, with directions 



from his Lordship to find all things under the true worth, 
and upon oath of jurors, as well as freeholders, as cus- 
tomary tenants ; which course being held by them, are 
notwithstanding surveyed and returned at 38,554/. 15s. 
Out of which, for Sir Robert Dudley's contempt, there 
is to be deducted 10,000/., and for the Lady Dudley's 
jointure, which is without impeachment of waste, 
whereby she may fell all the woods, which, by the survey 
amount unto 11,722/. 

The total of the ~J In Land, 1 6,431/. Qs. 
Survey ariseth, f In Woods, 11,722/. 2s. 
as folio weth: J The Castle, 10,401/. 4*. 

His Majestie hath herein the mean profits of the 
Castle and premises, through Sir Robert Dudley's con- 
tempt during his life, or his Majesties pardon ; the re- 
version in fee being in the Lord Privy-seal." Dugdale's 
N 



90 

Warwickshire, vol. I. p. 251. An original copy of 
the Survey of Kenilworth Castle is preserved among 
the Cottonian MSS. Vespas. F. ix. 302. in the British 
Museum. 

Such was Kenilworth at its height of magnificence ; 
the next notice is of its decline and overthrow, and 
almost ever since that time it has been, as Bishop Hurd 
Temarks, " void and tenantless ruins ; clasped with the 
ivy, open to wind and weather, and presenting 
nothing but the ribs and carcase, as it were, of their 
former state." When Oliver Cromwell portioned out 
this manor to his officers, it is related that they " de- 
molished the castle, drained the great pool, cut down 
the King's woods, destroyed his parks and chase, and 
divided the lands into farms amongst themselves." This 
was the complete overthrow of that magnificent castle, and 
succeeding writers have had only to record how time and 
the storms of heaven have continued to cast down stone 
after stone of the interesting ruins. In 171 6, the excel- 
lent Dr. Richard Hurd, afterwards Bishop of Worcester, 
visited Kenilworth Castle ; and he has given a beautiful 
account of its state at that time, in the third of his 
" Moral and Political Dialogues." — " When they 
alighted from the coach," says he, " the first object that 

f resented itself was the principal gateway of the Castle, 
t had been converted into a farm-house, and was indeed 
the only part of these vast ruins that was inhabited. On 
their entrance to the inner court, they were struck with 
the sight of many mouldering towers, which preserved a 
sort of magnificence even in their ruins. They amused 
themselves with observing the vast compass of the whole, 
with marking the uses, and tracing the dimensions of 
the several parts. All which it was easy for them to 
do by the very distinct traces that remained of them ; and 
especially by means of Dugdale's plans and descriptions, 
which they had taken care to consult. After rambling 
about for some time, they clambered up a heap of ruins, 
which lay on the west side the court ; and thence came 
to a broken tower, which, when they had mounted some 
steps, led them to a path-way on the tops of the walls. 
From this eminence they had a very distinct view of the 



91 

several parts they had before contemplated ; of the gar- 
dens on the north-side; of the winding meadow that 
encompassed the walls of the Castle, on the west and 
south ; and had, besides, the command of the country 
round about them for many miles. There was some- 
thing so august in the mingled prospect of so many 
antique towers falling into rubbish, and in the various 
beauties of the landscape, that they were, all of them, as 
it were, suspended in admiration, and continued silent 
for some time." Moral and Polit. Dial. edit. 1759. 8vo. 
p. 25. 

Here then is the last state of that celebrated castle, in 
which the most splendid scenes of Elizabeth's most 
splendid reign were performed j like the great and mag- 
nificent cities of Babylon and Jerusalem, its goodliness 
is turned into ruins, and the beauty of it is exchanged 
for desolation. The flapping banners, rich with em- 
broidered blazonings, and the gorgeous cloths of tissue 
and tapestry, which once covered the chambers, have all 
been rent from their places - r and instead of them there 
is the ivy, and the long grass, the rush, the dock, and 
the " hyssop that springeth out of the wall." For the 
minstrel's music there are now the shrieks of the owl ; 
and, for the court and presence of royalty, there are now 
silence and mournful solitude. One would have felt proud 
of the fall of Kenilworth, had the walls been rased to the 
ground in battle ; but to think that it was first dilapidated 
by the lawless bands of our own ancestors, and then left 
to the most cruel decay ; it is like viewing a dear friend 
perishing, piecemeal, by consumption -> aud the feelings 
thus excited, are the finest, though the most distressing 
which the heart can endure. 

" The flower in ripened bloom unmatched 

Must fall the earliest prey ; 
Though by no hand untimely snatched, 

The leaves must drop away : 
And yet it were a greater grief 
To watch it withering, leaf by leaf, 

Than see it plucked to-day ; 
Since earthly eye but ill can bear 
To trace the change to foul from fair. " 



92 

Page 9. — voids the place. 
■ An old English verb active, originally derived from the 
French Vider, to empty or leave vacant. It was fre- 
quently used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. 
Shakspeare in his Henry V. act v. scene vii. makes the 
King say, 

" Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill; 
If they will fight with us, hid them come down, 
Or void the field ; they do offend our sight." 

Page 9. — M. Ferrers, Lord of Mis-rule in the Court. 
Warton, in his History of English Poetry, vol. II. 
sect, xxxiv. p. 293, states that this was George Ferrers, 
whom Holingshed mentions as Lord of Misrule in the 
time of King Edw. VI. ; but Wood in his *' Athence 
Oxonienses," when speaking of this eminent author, never 
mentions his having held such an office ; probably sup- 
posing, that it would be derogatory to his character, 
both as a scholar and a poet. Puttenham calls him by 
the name of " Maister Edward Ferrys," and this has 
created a supposition that these were two different per- 
sons, but trie character which he has given of that 
author, has nearly identified him to be the same as the 
George Ferrers already mentioned. The latter writer, 
when speaking of him as a poet of Edward the Sixth's 
reign, says : " But the principall man in this profession, 
at the same time was Maister Edward Ferrys, a man of 
no lesse mirth and felicitie that way, but of much more 
skil and magnificence in his meeter, and therefore wrate 
for the most part to the Stage in Tragedie, and some- 
times in Comedie, or Enterlude, wherein he gave the 
King so much good recreation, as he had thereby many 
good rewardes." Lib. I. ch. xxxi. p. 49. edit. 1589- Soon 
after, the same author again observes, " for Tragedie 
the Lord Buckhurst and maister Edward Ferrys, for such 
doinges as I have sene of theirs, deserve the highest 
price." Ibid. p. 51. These passages are supposed by 
Warton, sufficient to prove that Puttenham mistook the 
name of Edward for George, especially when joined to 
the fact, that •* no plays of an Edward Ferrers, or Ferrys, 



93 

which is the same, are now known to exist, nor are 
mentioned by any writer of the times which are now con- 
cerned." Notwithstanding this conclusion, Wood in his 
Athence, mentions an Edward Ferrers, though his ac- 
count of him is doubtful, short, and indefinite ; as he 
professes himself unable to say where he was born, or 
to name the College in Oxford at which he was educated. 
The only particulars, therefore, which can be collected 
from Wood, are, that Edward Ferrers was of the family 
of Ferrers, of Baldesley Clinton, in Warwickshire; that he 
continued at Oxford University several years, " being then 
in much esteem for his poetry ;" that about the time of his 
leaving College he wrote " several Tragedies, Comedies, or 
Enterludes," and that he " was in great renown about 
1564," when he supposes him to have died, and to have 
been buried at Baldesley Clinton, leaving a son Henry. 
But although this dispute must perhaps long remain 
undecided, yet it is certain, that George Ferrers was the 
Lord of Mis-rule alluded to in the text; and of him, and 
his office, it will be interesting to give as full an ac- 
count, as the materials now to be obtained will permit. 

George Ferrers, according to all his biographers, was 
born at St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, and received a part 
of his education at Oxford. After quitting College, he 
entered himself of Lincoln's Inn, where he became a 
Barrister ; and as Wood remarks, was as " eminent for 
the law, as before he was for his poetry, having been as 
much celebrated for it by the learned of his time, as 
any." While studying the jurisprudence of England, 
Ferrers appears to have published his first work, entitled, 
*' The Great Charter, called in Latyn, Magna Carta, 
with diuers olde statutes :" no date. In the second 
edition of this work, the colophon declares the author's 
name in the following terms . " Thus endeth the booke 
called Magna Carta, translated oute of Latyn and 
Frenshe into Englishe, by George Ferrerz. Imprynted 
at London, in Paules church-yerde, at the signe of the 
Maydens head, by Thomas Petyt. m.d.xlii." Mr. 
Haslewood, the unwearied and excellent illustrator of 
the Poetry and Biography of Queen Elizabeth's reign, 
has said in his introduction to the recent reprint of the 




94 

" Mirror for Magistrates," that Ferrers " was a polished 
courtier, and esteemed favourite with Henry the VIIL 
although that capricious monarch, for some offence, the 
nature of which has not yet been discovered, committed 
him to prison in 1542." For the same King he also 
served in the army, and Wood states, was engaged in 
several battles ; but in the year above-mentioned he 
appears to have left the wars, as at that time he was re- 
turned Member of Parliament for Plymouth. Henry VIIL 
appears to have entertained a grateful sense of the ser- 
vices of Ferrers ; since, in the will of that Sovereign, in 
1546-7, his name appears as a Legatee, for one hundred 
marks, in a list with many others, who were to receive 
their bequests, as the instrument states, for the special 
love and favour that we bear to our trusty counsailours and 
others our said servaunts, hereafter following." It is re- 
markable, that in this will there is not any christian name 
given to Ferrers. In the reign of Edward VI. Ferrers 
was employed in the suite of the Duke of Somerset, 
Protector to the King; and he was also one of the Com- 
missioners in the Army, in the expedition to Scotland. 
In 1552, after the condemnation of the Duke of Somer- 
set, the populace were greatly irritated against the Duke 
of Northumberland, whom they conceived to be the 
cause of it ; and the young King himself was consider- 
ably grieved at the unfortunate fate of his uncle. On 
this account, as well to amuse the commonalty, as to 

g've pleasure to the King, " it was deuised," says 
olingshed, " that the feast of Christs natiuitie, com- 
monlie called Christmasse, then at hand, should be 
solemnlie kept at Greenwich, with open houshold, and 
franke resort to Court, (which is called keeping of the 
hall) what time of old ordinarie course there isalwaise one 
appointed to make sporte in the court, called commonlie 
Lord of Mis-rule ; wnose office is not unknown to such as 
haue beene brought vp in noblemen* s houses, and among 
great house-keepers, which vse liberall feasting in that 
season. There was therfore by order of the councell, a 
wise gentleman, and learned, named George Ferrers, 
appointed to that office for this yeare ; who, being of better 
credit and estimation than comonlie his predecessors 



95 

had beene before, receiued all his commissions and 
warrants by the name of the maister of the King's pas- 
times. Which gentleman so well supplied his office, 
both in shew of sundrie sights and deuices of rare in- 
uentions, and in act of diuerse interludes, and matters of 
pastime plaied by persons, as not onlie satisfied the com- 
mon sort, but also were verie well liked and allowed by 
the councell, and other of skill in the like pastimes ; 
but best of all by the young King himselfe, as appeered 
by his princelie liberalitie in rewarding that service. " 
Chronicle of Engl. vol. III. p. IO67. This office, which 
George Ferrers so ably filled, had too often been exe- 
cuted by those who possessed neither the wit nor the 
genius it required ; but, as will be hereafter shewn in its 
history, persons of high talent were originally selected to 
perform the somewhat difficult duties of a Lord of Mis- 
rule. On the 30th of November, 1552, Ferrers received 
100/. for the charges of his office -, and afterwards the 
Lord Mayor, who probably had been at the royal festival, 
entertained him in London. Stowe, in his *' Annals," 
thus relates the circumstances of his visit and rewards. 
*' The King kept his Christmasse with open houshold 
at Greenwich, George Ferrers, Gentleman of Lincolnes 
Inne, being Lord of the merry disports all the 12 dayes, 
who so pleasantly and wisely hehaued himselfe, that the 
King had great delight in his pastimes. On Monday, 
the fourth of January, the said Lord of merry disports 
came by water to London, and landed at the Tower- 
wharfe, entered the Tower, and then rode through the 
Tower-streete, where he was receiued by Sergeant Vawce, 
Lord of Mis-rule to John Mainard, one of the Sheriffes 
of London, and so conducted through the Citie with a 
great company of young Lords and Gentlemen, to the 
house of Sir George Barne, Lord Maior ; where he, with 
the chiefe of? his company dined, and after had a great 
banquet ; and, at his departure, the Lord Maior gave 
him a standing cup, with a couer of silver and guilt, of 
the value of ten pound, for a reward \ and also set a hogs- 
head of Wine, and a Barrell of Beere at his gate, for his 
traine that followed him ; the residue of his Gentlemen 
and Seruants dined at other Aldermen's houses, and with 




96 

the Sheriffes, and so departed to the Tower-wharfe 
againe, and to the Court by water, to the great com- 
mendation of the Maior and Aldermen, and highly ac- 
cepted of the King and Councell." Atmals, edit. 1631. 
Fol. p. 608. In 1559, Ferrers again appeared as a poet 
in the celebrated " Mirror for Magistrates," in which he 
wrote, in conjunction with several of the best versifiers 
and most learned men of that period ; and as the history 
of this book is a portion of his own life, it will not be 
irrelevant to give it so far as Ferrers was concerned. 

Richard Baldwyne, who may be considered as the first 
of that party which composed the Mirror for Magistrates, 
was a graduate of Oxford and an ecclesiastic ; and he, in 
his Preface to the work, states, that Thomas Marshe, 
the printer, had invited him to take a share in the com- 

Position of a continuation of Lydgate's " Fall of 
'rinces ;" in which the examples should be selected 
from English history. Baldwyne, however, was un- 
willing to engage in a work so laborious without as- 
sistance ; but Marshe soon after provided " divers learned 
men, whose manye giftes nede fewe prayses,— to take 
upon them parte of the travayle." These met together 
to the number of seven, of whom George Ferrers was 
one, and who, after they had agreed upon the plan to be 
pursued, wrote the first tale, entitled, the Fall of Robert 
Tresilian, Chiefe Justice of England. Besides this, Fer- 
rers wrote five other poems, which were, on the mis- 
fortunes of Thomas, of Woodstock ; King Richard the 
Second; Eleanor Cobham; Humphrey, Duke of 
Gloucester; and Edmund, Duke of Somerset; and to 
the above, Wood adds other stories which he does not 
name. Most of these were scattered through the dif- 
ferent editions of the Mirror for Magistrates, from 1559, 
till 1578. Of that published in the latter year, Mr. 
Haslewood is inclined to think Ferrers was the Editor, 
since it contains many exclusive alterations, and his two 
legends of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. In 
1575, George Ferrers seems to have been employed by 
the Earl of Leicester, as one of the authors for the en- 
tertainment to be given to the Queen ; at which time 
he appears still to have been in the Office of Lord of 




97 

Mis-rule. In the elegant work, entitled, ** Kenilworth 
Illustrated/* William Hamper, Esq. of Birmingham, 
whose very extensive antiquarian learning and collections 
are so well known to the literary world, has printed an 
original MS. of Masques, which was long in the pos- 
session of Henry Ferrers, Esq. of Baddesley Clinton, in 
Warwickshire, who was, most probably, a very near re- 
lative of George. There is little doubt that they were 
the production of the courtly Master of Mis-rule ; and 
that the first part, which is called " A Cartell for a 
Challeng," was exhibited in the Tilt-yard at Westminster, 
on November 17th, 1590 ; when Sir Henry Lee, the 
Queen's Champion, resigned the office to George Clif- 
ford, Earl of Cumberland. It is supposed that the re- 
mainder was presented on a progress, probably when 
the Queen visited Sir Henry Lee, at Quarendon, in 
Buckinghamshire. Only a small portion of this in- 
teresting composition has been printed before. Early in 
1579, George Ferrers is supposed to have died at Flam- 
stead in Hertfordshire j as, on the 18th of May in that 
year, administration was granted on his effects. Having 
thus recorded what is known of the life of Ferrers, the 
history and nature of his office are next to be considered. 
The title and the duties of a Lord of Mis-rule ap- 
pear in England to have had a classical origin ; since 
Warton, in his Hist, of Engl. Poetry, vol.11, sect. xvi. 
p. 378, mentions, that " in an original draught of the 
Statutes of Trinity College, at Cambridge, founded in 
154fJ, one of the Chapters is entitled, De Prcefecto Lu- 
dorum qui Imperator dicitur, under whose direction and 
authority, Latin Comedies and Tragedies are to be ex- 
hibited in the hall at Christmas. With regard to the 
peculiar business and office of Imperator," continues 
the same writer, " it is ordered, that one of the 
Masters of Arts shall be placed over the juniors, every 
Christmas, for the regulation of their games and diver- 
sions at that season of festivity. At the same time, he 
is to govern the whole society in the hall and chapel, as 
a republic committed to his special charge, by a set of 
laws which he is to frame in Latin and Greek verse- 
His sovereignty is to last during the twelve days of 
o 



98 

Christmas \ and he is to exercise the same power oti 
Candlemas-day." His fee amounts to forty shillings. 
-Nor was this peculiar to the University of Cambridge; 
for Wood, in his Athena Oxonienses, speaks of a similar 
custom being used in several of the Colleges at Oxford, 
especially at St. John's and Merton. The Inns of Court 
also celebrated their Christmas sports under the direction 
of a Revel Master, who frequently received substantial 
honours and rewards. Warton mentions, that a Christ- 
mas Prince, elected by the society of the Middle Temple, 
in 1635, was attended by a Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, 
eight Officers with white staves, a band of Gentlemen 
Pensioners, and two Chaplains, who preached before 
him on the Sunday preceding Christmas-day. This 
holiday Sovereign also dined in the hall and chamber, 
under a cloth of estate ; while his feasts were supplied 
with venison by Lord Holland, and by the Lord Mayor 
and Sheriff's of London with wine. After his reign was 
over, King James I. knighted him at Whitehall. — The 
same system of appointing a Ruler of Pastimes seems to 
have been common through most ranks ; for Stow ob- 
serves, that " the like had ye in the house of every No- 
bleman of honour or good worship, were he spiritual or 
temporal. The Mayor of London, and either of the 
Sheriffs, had their several Lords of Mis-rule, ever con- 
tending, without quarrel or offence, who should make 
the rarest pastime to delight the beholders. These 
Lords, beginning their rule at Allhallond-Eve, con- 
tinued the same till the morrow after the Feast of the 
Purification, commonly called Candlemas-day : in which 
space there were fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and 
mummeries, with playing at cards for counters, nayles, 
and points in every house, more for pastime than for 
gaine." Strype's Edit, of Stow e, Book I. p. 252. But the 
best account of the fees, duties, dress, and general use of 
the Lord of Mis-rule, is given by the most violent 
enemy of all sports that probably ever existed, namely, 
Philip Stubbs, the vehement author of the " Anatomie 
of Anuses." This singular writer, while he rails most 
immoderately at all the fashions and follies of his age, 
condemning them and their votaries to certain perdition^ 



99 

has nevertheless contrived most minutely to record them 
for the benefit of posterity ; and frequently, where less 
scrupulous writers are deficient in their intelligence, 
their imperfections may be amply supplied by a reference 
to his pious invectives. Speaking of the Lord of Mis- 
rule, Stubbs writes thus: " Firste all the wilde heades 
of the parishe, conventynge together, chuse them a 
grand Capitaine (of mischeef ), whom they innoble with 
the tide of my Lorde of Misserule, and hym they crown 
with great solemnitie, and adopt for their kyng. This 
kyng anoynted, chuseth forthe twentie, fourtie, three- 
score, or a hundred lustie guttes like to hymself, to waite 
uppon his lordely majestie, and to guarde his noble 
persone. Then every one of these his menne he in- 
vesteth with his liveries, of greene, yellowe, or some 
other light wanton colour. And as though that were not 
(baudie) gaudy enough, I should saie, they bedecke 
themselves with scarries, ribons, and laces, hanged all 
over with golde rynges, precious stones, and other 
jewelles : this doen, they tye about either legge, twentie 
or fourtie belles, with rich hande-kercheefes in their 
handes, and sometymes laied acrosse over their shoulders 
and neckes, borrowed for the moste parte of their pretie 
Mopsies and loovyng Bessies, for bussyng them in the 
darcke. Thus thinges sette in order, they have their 
hobby horses *, dragons, and other antiques, together 
with their baudie Pipers, and thunderyng Drommers, to 
strike up the Deville's dance f withall, then marche 
these heathen companies towardes the Churche and 
Churche-Yarde; their Pipers pipyng, Drommers thon- 
deryng, their stumppes dauncyng, tneir belles jynglyng, 
their handkerchefes swyngyng about their heades like 



* These were formed with the resemblance of a horse's 
head and tail, having a light wooden frame to be attached 
to the body of the person who performed the hobby-horse. 
The trappings and footcloth, which were often very splendid, 
reached to the ground, and so concealed the actor's feet, 
while he pranced and curvetted like a real horse. 

t The Morris Dance. 



100 

madmen, their Hobbie horses and other monsters skyr- 
mishyng amongst the throng: and in this sorte they 
goe to the Churche, (though the Minister bee at Praier 
or Preachyng) dauncyng and swingyng their handker- 
cheefes over their heades in the churche, like Devilles 
incarnate, withe suche a confused noise, that no man 
can heare his owne voice. Then the foolishe people, 
they looke, they stare, they laugh, they fleere, and mount 
upon formes and pewes, to see these goodly pageauntes, 
solemnised in this sort. Then after this, aboute the 
Churche they goe againe and againe, and so forthe into 
the Churche-Yarde, where they have commonly their 
Sommer haules, their Bowers, Arbours, and Banquet- 
tyng houses set up, wherein they feaste, banquet, 
and daunce all that daie, and (peradventure) all night 
too. And thus these terrestriall furies spend their Sab- 
baoth daie. Then for the further innoblyng of this 
honourable Lurdane * (Lorde, I should saye), they have 
also certaine papers, wherein is paynted some bablerie or 
other, of Imagerie worke, and these they call my Lord 
of Misrule's badges ; these thei giue to every one that 
will geve money for them, to maintaine them in this their 
heathenrie, devilrie, whoredome, drunkennesse, pride, 
and what not. And who will not shew himselfe 
buxome f to them, and give them money for these the 
Deville's Cognizaunces, they shall be mocked, and 
flouted at shamefully. And so assotted are some, that 
they not onely give them money, to maintaine their ab- 
homination withall, but also weare their badges and 
cognizaunces in their hattes or cappes, openlye. An- 
other sort of fantasticall fooles, bring to these Helhoundes 
(the Lorde of Mis-rule and his complices) some Bread, 
some goode Ale, some newe cheese, some olde cheese, 
some Custardes, some Cakes, some Flaunes J, some 
Tartes, some Creame, some Meate, some one thing, 



* A Blockhead. — Old French, Lourdain. 
t Compliant, lively, brisk. — Saxon, Bucrum. 
X According to Phillips, this was a species of cake, made 
with flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. 



101 

some another, but if they knewe that as often as they 
bring any to the main tenau nee of these execrable pas- 
tymes, they offer sacrifice to the Devill and Sathanas, 
they would repent, and withdrawe their haundes, which 
Godgraunt they maie." Edit. 1585. 8vo. fol. 92. b. Such 
was a Lord of Mis-rule, whose office, however, branched 
out into other circumstances than those now detailed, 
but his duties are all equally at an end, and the name 
only remembered. The puritans were the principal 
cause of this overthrow; as, in the time of James I., the 
custom was preached against as a relic of the Saturna- 
lian games, deduced from the pagan ritual. 

Page 10. — Master Muncaster. 
From Fuller's Worthies of England, edit. 1662, 
part III. p. 139. Wood's Athence Oxonienses, vol. I. 
p. 369, and Wilson's Memorabilia Cantabrigice, p. 112, 
a few particulars may be gained of the life of this eminent 
scholar, Dr. Richard Mulcaster. He was the son of 
William Mulcaster ; was born at Carlisle, and was de- 
scended from an ancient family in Cumberland, which 
had been employed by King William I., to defend the 
border provinces of England from the depredations of 
the Scots. After having received his education on the 
foundation at Eton, in 1548, he was elected to King's 
College, Cambridge; but after taking one degree, he 
removed to Christ-Church, Oxford, to which he was 
elected in 1555. In December, 1556, he assumed his 
Bachelor's degree, and becarie so eminent for his Greek 
learning, that in 156l, he was made the first Master of 
the Merchant-Taylors' School, then recently founded. 
After passing upwards of twenty-five years in this situ- 
ation, in 1596, he resigned it, and was made Head-master 
of St. Paul's, where he continued for twelve years more ; 
and then, on the death of his wife, he retired to the 
.Rectory of Stamford-Rivers, in Essex, which was given 
him by Queen Elizabeth. He was also, in 1594, made 
a Prebend of Salisbury, and was sometimes employed by 
the Queen in dramatic productions, since his name ap- 
pears for two payments in the Council-Register. On 
April 15th, l6ll, Mulcaster died at his rectory, and 



102 

was buried, in his own church, by the side of his wife. 
The works of Dr. Mulcaster were, " Positions ;" a book 
on the training up of children, 1581, 4to. : " Elemen- 
tarie," a volume on the English language, 1582, 4to. ; 
and a Catechism for St. Paul's School, in Latin verse, 
15Q9, 8vo. 

Page 16. — Dorter. 
A word derived from the French noun, Dortoir, a 
Dormitory. It originally signified, according to Phillips, 
" the common room or place where all the Friars of one 
Convent sleep together and lie all night." 

Page 21. — Who bet than I, &c. 
An ancient poetical contraction, and also the original 
Saxon word Bee, used for better. During the repetition 
of the five lines preceding the above, a marginal note, 
in the first edition of the Princely Pleasures, states that 
" the Queene saide the actor was blind/' in consequence 
of which, at p. 37, Audax, his Son, comes to entreat 
her Majesty to restore his father to sight. 

Page 22. — Merlin the Prophet, enclosed in a rock. 

The original of this story, as well as the history of the 
Lady of the Lake herself, is to be found in the well-known 
romance of La Morte d' Arthur ; for the first chapter of 
the fourth book, is thus entitled : " How Merlyn was 
assotted and dooted on one of the lades of the lake, and 
how he was shytte in a roche, vnder a stone, and there 
deyed." The idea of Sir Bruce's revenge, seems to be 
without foundation. 

Page 28. — The Heron House. 

The marginal notes to the first edition of Gascoigne's 
Princely Pleasures, states that '* there was a Heron 
House in the Pool ;" the original survey of the Manor 
preserved in the Cottonian Library, Tiberius, E. viii. 246, 
is, however, so damaged by fire, that this building is 
never mentioned. 

Page 29. — Master Goldingham. 

Of Henry Goldingham only a very few memoranda 
are now extant : like many scholars of his time, he ap- 
pears to have been employed, both as a writer and an 
actor of pageants, as in the present instance, when he 



103 

performed Arion. A whole masque of his composing 
will be found in " The receiving of the Queene's Ma- 
jestie into her Citie of Norwich,' which was printed in 
Mr. Nichols's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. II. 
p. 26, of that particular tract. There is also in the Har- 
leian Manuscripts, preserved in the British Museum, a 
poem by Goldingham, which is referred to in vol. III. 
of Queen Elizabeth's Progresses, p. x. In the Harleian 
Catalogue, edit. 1808, vol. III. p. 447, it is thus de- 
scribed : " Numb. 6902. A Quarto containing a Poem 
inscribed to Queen Elizabeth by Henry Goldyngham, 
and entitled the Garden Plot. It is an allegorical poem, 
(.118 verses) with a long introduction, (46 verses) in 
stanzas of six lines. This copy is prepared for intro- 
ducing illuminations, but none are finished." In another 
Harleian Manuscript, No. 3695, which is a collection of 
" Merry Passages and Jeasts," are two anecdotes con- 
cerning Goldingham, one of which, as it relates to the 
Kenilworth Pageant, is here transcribed, but the other 
is wholly unworthy of being extracted. 

" 221. There was a spectacle presented to Q: Eliza- 
beth vpon the water, and amongst others, Har : Golding : 
was to represent Arion vpon the Dolphin's backe, but 
finding his voice to be very hoarse and vnpleasant when 
he came to performe it, he teares of his disguise, and 
sweares he was none of Arion, not he, but honest Har : 
Goldingham •, which blunt discoverie pleasd the Queene 
better, then if it had gone thorough in the right way; 
yet he could order his voice to an instrument exceeding 
well." In the romance of Kenilworth this incident is 
given to a fictitious but well-drawn character called 
Michael Lambourne, vide vol. III. p. 79- Before clos- 
ing this note, it should be remarked, that in the text the 
name of Proteus is erroneously inserted for Arion. 

Page 33. — A Shew to have been presented. 
Vide Laneham's Letter, p. 49, for the reason it was 
omitted. 

Page 30. — Zabeta. 
A title formed from the last three syllables of the 
Queen's name, when translated into Latin, viz. : Eliza- 



104 

betha. She is, in page 62, called by several other ap- 
pellations, as Ahtelasik, Completa,2itiA'Complacida. The 
first of these when divided thus, Ah te basile, signifies 
Ah thou Queen, taking the word basile, for B«<r<X\«ra-« ; 
the second is the feminine gender in the nominative 
case, of the Latin adjective Completus, accomplished, 
complete ; and the third is also a female name, expres- 
sive of pleasing or delighting. It is evident, that both 
the exhibitions in which these names were used, were 
composed to display to Elizabeth the national wish for 
her marriage with Lord Leicester; who is represented in 
the latter under the name of Deep-desire ; while it is 
probable that Due-desire was meant for the Earl < 
Essex, and that all the other allegorical characters we 
but the types of real personages at the Court. Dudl __ 
in this manner showed his policy, by enforcing his own 
suit, and depreciating his riifctls, even when the Queen 
had withdrawn from the intrigues of government, to 
pleasure and retirement. 

Page 31.— Affying. 

Assuring ; the word is originally derived from the 
French verb active Fier, to trust or rely upon. Another 
edition reads affirming. 

Page 31.— Filed. 

Smooth, polished. — Probably from Fylb, a folding or 
rolling. 

Page 33. — Holts. 

Small woods, or groves, — derived from the Saxon 
Holte. 

Page 33. — Bight. Named, called. 

Page 34. — lefe. Dear-beloved. 

Page 35.— Wight. 
A person. — Saxon Uhhc; a creature, an animal. 



is 

t 

ey 



Printed by S. & R. BENTLEY, 
Dorset-street, Salisbury-Square, Loudon. 









532 Kenilworth Castle, Lanehanfs Let- 
ter describing the magnificent Pageants pre- 
sented before Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth 
Castle in 1575, etc. ; also, Gascoigne's Princely 
Pleasures, with the Masque, intended to have 
been presented before Queen Elizabeth in 1575, 
2 vols, in 1, post 8vo, half mor% 2.25. 

Lond. x321, 

Eobert Balmanno's copy with his library stamp; 
view, etc., inserter' 



